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Disguised Curses	By : Raholea Category: Naruto AU/AR > General Views: 2438 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 36
- 37
- 38
For anyone who's paying attention, this if the FIFTH update I've made since Thanksgiving '11. It's now January 12, '12. oooh. 1-12-12. totally not planned. ANYWAY. If no one's realized that, make sure you're fully caught up with all previously posted chapters. The angst and emotions have been building, and this conversation should *not* be read without being completely current in the story. Thank You.

Once again, my heart to Katrin to helping be inspiration/ guide/ second voice on my story of late. And to Djargo, my faithful reviewer... thanks for always giving me something to think about. you never just say 'i like it' and disappear. Thank you so very much!!!

Further Note at bottom. Please enjoy the Chapter.....

Chapter 37

Naruto found himself at the door to Neji's room, nose twitching at the heady blend of Neji's blood and his mate's natural scent. She was kneeling beside her cousin, hands glowing with chakra as her fingers prodded his ankle. Neji was wiping his freshly healed arm with a wet rag, removing the tacky blood from his skin. They both looked up when he leaned against the doorjamb, his eyes rolling back as he inhaled. “You have no clue what you do to me,” he murmured. He watched lazily, eyes at half mast as Hinata finished patching her cousin up, offered him a quick squeeze, then grabbed Naruto's hand. She led him down the hallway, until the red eyes cleared and softened. Naruto slowed, tugging her around a corner to an empty hallway and wrapped his arms around her. “Hi.”

She giggled at him and pressed her lips to his for a brief, chaste kiss. “How did your conversation with father go?” She whispered, voice and lips soft against his. She was close enough to catch the flickering in his face before he gave a mile- wide grin.

“He approved.” A pulse of sheer gratuitous fulfillment to that concern washed through her, and she couldn't help but return the smile. He squeezed her gently before slowly pulling away. “I will tell you more, later. Your father mentioned things the three of us will have to talk about.” He glanced around the still deserted hallway, but his eyes were serious when they returned to her. She nodded, used to the layers of secrecy that happened around her. Secrets were part of the ninja life; the jobs, the people, the clan secrets. Her cousin's inhuman body and the people like Naruto and Gaara were just more layers of her life.

“Does this mean you'll actually marry me, since you've asked him now?” It had been a somewhat avoided topic as they'd been dating. She loved him, he wanted her, but as he'd admitted from the beginning, he didn't know if he loved her. She wasn't going to twist a way into his heart by forcing a marriage, despite the havoc it could run on her pride and presence as a Hyuga. She pushed the floating thoughts from her mind with a vengeance, awaiting his answer. The honey-thick rolling growl that Hinata secretly called a purr greeted her, and Naruto angled his body to put her between him and the wall. He stood a full head above her now, but she wasn't intimidated by him, like this, even with the red eyes in his illusion masked face. His breath exhaled warmly near her ear.

“I want you in my life, as much as you'll have me. My mate, my wife, the mother of my kids- anything you're willing to give, I’ll accept it.” He barely finished the words before her hands dug into his jacket, pushing him back enough she could kiss him, lips pressing hard and eager. “You would have to do a lot to keep me from your life, Naruto Uzumaki.” He smiled indulgently against her mouth.

“I have a mission tomorrow with Sasuke and the rest of team seven, we'll gone for a week or so. Can you come over tonight for dinner?”

“I should be free, for dinner.” Her cheeks blushed and Naruto swept his fingers over the pinked skin. “I wouldn't be able to stay late.” He gave a pained sounding whine before kissing her again. He pulled away a moment later, his breath rushing from him as he leaned a shoulder against the wall.

“I couldn't let you stay. Give me a couple hours to get things started, then drop by. An early dinner, and then I have something for you to think about.” He brushed a stray lock of hair back behind her ear, careful of his claws. Always so damn careful, now. “No worries,” he chided her firmly, when she turned those pale eyes up at him. “Just join me 'n' Sasuke for dinner.”

“I can do that.” A smile answered the one gleaming on his lips, and she held his hand as they left the house and walked through the compound to the main entrance. People passed, but no one bothered to look anymore, no one taking a second glance at the close friendship between Hiashi Hyuga's daughter and the Kyuubi vessel. A hard-won quiet wrapped around them, and Naruto simply squeezed her hand gently when they broke apart.

Hinata watched for a moment as he took to the rooftops, flitting across the streets and out of sight within moments. She smiled to herself before returning to the main house. Neji met her in the hallway to the private wings, limping slightly. Takeshi was perched on his shoulder. Hinata's focus slid from her lover to her cousin fluidly, and she reached a hand toward him. “You shouldn't be up yet. At least go sit down for a while and let yourself heal.” She hadn't patched him up just so he could undo her work, after all.

“I refuse to hide in my room.” The words failed to be harsh, coming out firm but pained. He didn't protest further when she wrapped a hand around his elbow and waited for him. He gave in to her insistent need to help and conceded. “The kitchen would be nice.”

“I won't be here for dinner tonight.” She settled him into a chair and stepped to the sink to start tea, offering Takeshi a spoon. He promptly dragged it over to Neji's open hand. “But I’ll be around after if you need anything.”

“I don't-” His snappy words cut short as the ermine stepped on his fingers and squeaked at him. Neji frowned, but continued softly. “I should manage well enough. He's taken your job, making sure I don't overdo it.” He didn't mention how he'd argued with the ermine about even leaving his room. Whoever the ninja was inside the ermine, they were as stubborn as he was. Maybe more. “I'll be okay.”

“Let him help you when he can.” Her fingers brushed over the wedge- shaped head. “He hasn't done us wrong yet.”

Neji watched the ermine preen under her attention, while she scratched under his chin and stroked down his back in long sweeps. “We'll see.” he finished cryptically. “When he's ready to show me his face, I’ll take that collar off. Not until then.”

Hinata brought the finished tea over and set it on the table, steam rising from the pot. Takeshi poked his nose into the drifting white and pulled back, sneezing violently. She made a low sound of assent. “Take care of each other, then. If you need me, Neji, I’ll be around.”

“Go enjoy your date.” Neji stirred a cloud of milk into his cup and spared a smile for his cousin. “Just be safe.”

“Always, nii- chan.”

Sasuke fell in step with him two streets over from the Hyuga compound, becoming an immediate shadow in the wake of Naruto's path. It took one look at his face for Sasuke to be certain that Hiashi Hyuga had consented, and he'd briefly wondered if Naruto would be in one of those moods. He hoped not; the mission they would start in the morning would likely be difficult enough without his body being raw from a pounding. But Naruto gave no implication of that, simply leading the way into the markets, pausing just long enough to drop some change at one of the stalls before he was gone again. The grin on his face was carefree, not yet manic, and Sasuke felt something inside ease at the realization that Naruto was simply happy. Energetic, excited, but happy. He followed the blonde blur back to their house where he waited, amused, as Naruto turned into a raging tornado around the kitchen. He counted five burns and mild swearing within a couple minutes, rolling his eyes at the fact Naruto still hadn't stopped long enough to explain what, exactly, he was doing.

“Hey baka. You going to tell me what's going on?” The prodding insult got a fraction on the reaction he'd expected. Naruto flashed a toothy grin his way, slit his finger on the kunai he was cutting vegetables with, swore and licked his hand. When he popped the offended finger away it was healed, and the mood hadn't broken any. “Trying something. Hinata's coming over for dinner, and no, you can't disappear. You'll eat with us, 'cause we have some things to talk about. But I only told her to give me a couple hours, and if dinner's done a little early, that leaves more time for after, until she has to go home.”

“You can't cook much better than I can.” Sasuke swiped a tomato off the side of the counter and bit into it. The resulting squish of sound earned him a gleaming grin. “Tell me what Hiashi said.” He finished the tomato and stole half a carrot from under Naruto's claws as the conversation with Hinata's dad was repeated, and Sasuke nearly choked on a mouthful when Naruto mentioned the parts about Hinata's reputation. He remembered the half- visualized moment of Hinata from just a couple weeks ago. “Hiashi knows about us??”

“He suspects. I think he's decided it's just 'stress relief', burning off adrenalin from missions or because you're easy access. He doesn't know anything.” He slammed the kunai into the cutting board and shoved the pieces of various vegetables into a pot. He circled around the counter once he was done, closing in behind Sasuke and satisfying the urge to draw his fingers along the crimson tattoos. Sasuke arched for him, offering his neck and back. “We need to talk to Hinata about us, about how things could be. I want both of you to be happy. Just because I need you both doesn't mean there won't be times either of you may want something else.”

“But I promised things, when I made that oath and you bound me to my word...” Sasuke's voice carried clearly over his shoulder, having been forced to stay still by the claws digging into his skin. Naruto could hear the questioning, almost confusion, and he bent to rub a cheek against Sasuke's skin. He knew he didn't have the scent glands to mark his mates with, but the action soothed him anyway. “Don't tell me that if you could have kids, in time and know they would be spared any contamination, that you would sit back and make yourself suffer for fear of coming home with another woman's scent all over your skin.” He heard the way Sasuke's breath caught, the sharper tang of his scent that spiked with nerves, and Naruto knew that Sasuke had envisioned the outcome. Naruto knew he was possessive, nearly to a fault, but at least Sasuke and Hinata understood that and had accepted that. “Stop thinking about that. Focus on our options now and how we can handle it, and that we need to talk to Hinata about any, all of these ideas. But no worrying.”

The time passed in lucid silence, not broken by the soft sounds of cooking, the grumbling as Naruto tried to fiddle with things that didn't want to be perfect. Another half an hour passed that way, Sasuke staying clear of Naruto's abuse of the kitchen, already resigned to cleaning it later. He was briefly wondering if it would be easier dragging the stove outside and using a fireball on it than trying to scrub it clean, when a soft knock came on the door. Naruto barely glanced at him, tipping his head and raising an eyebrow.

Sasuke dragged himself away from the third tomato he was demolishing and answered the door.

Hinata smiled shyly up at him from the other side, and Sasuke stepped back to let her in. He had to admit she was looking beautiful tonight, pretty in a cream and blue kimono, her haired pulled back. She wasn't wearing any make-up, but she didn't need it. Sasuke took a risk and glanced down her body as she walked away. She had a gorgeous figure, hips that would finish filling out over the next couple years, and all the grace of a skilled kunoichi. He met Naruto's eyes as he followed Hinata toward the kitchen, and he knew by the smirk that Naruto could smell him. He said nothing, settling into his chair and biting viciously into the remains of his tomato. Let Naruto be smug over the fact his body agreed that Hinata had grown into a fine young woman.

Minutes floated by as he ignored the small talk between the love-birds, the quick kisses and sly looks. He accepted the dish mechanically, eating there at the counter and noting he needed to make Naruto use less salt in half his dishes. He moved to the fridge for juice and found himself pinned against the counter. “You're ignoring us, beta.”

Sasuke squashed the shudder from those words growled so near his ear. That tone promised so much, mostly things he didn't want to instigate this particular evening. “My apologies, alpha.” The words fell from him with practiced ease, still sincere. As usual, they didn't mollify Naruto much.

“Come sit down.”

It wasn't a request, and all three of them knew it. Sasuke felt his pride jerk in his chest when he remembered Hinata was just a few feet away, surely watching as Naruto put him back in place. But then he felt that odd sensation of stroking, Naruto's jaw rubbing against his skin. Assurance and claim, as Kakashi has once explained to him. Sasuke swallowed against the surge of pride and arched his body back against Naruto, silently offering a complacent body to assuage the dominance. Naruto pulled away, but an arm around his shoulders tugged Sasuke toward the table. He went willingly.

Naruto guided him into a chair across from Hinata, then dropped into the chair at the head of the table, comfortably between them. He glanced between his two mates and sighed. “We don't have all evening, Hinata has to be home at some point tonight and we will need sleep. But I want to say a couple things, and I don't want answers on anything tonight.” He waited until he had both sets of eyes on him, then brought up Hiashi's comments. “He's worried that I’ll be fucking both of you just because I can, and that Sasuke might use you.” He turned his gaze to Hinata, and even at an angle Sasuke could see the way using those words had affected Naruto. His whole body was tense, and the undertone of a growl in his voice held barely restrained aggression. “I have my own opinions about the two of you being together, but that is not my choice to make. It is up to both of you, and no, neither of you get to tell me you'll do it if I want you to. Hinata, I will understand if you refuse to do anything intimate with Sasuke, just like I wouldn't argue if Sasuke tells me no. But this choice is about whether you both want to, not about my feelings on the issue or about anyone outside this family.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, a nervous gesture they all knew too well. “Also, none of us are ready for kids. No matter who you let get close, Hinata, we're going to have to find a way to put that off for a few years. Tsunade should be of some help on that. I want kids, a family I can be proud of. But, not yet, you know?”

Hinata was biting her lip gently, and Sasuke could practically see the thoughts churning in her head. It was a lot to think about, and Sasuke knew that things were going to come out of this. Which way their life went was the only unknown. “I would agree that we're not ready to be parents yet.” He wanted to speak about the other, that he at least couldn't physically deny an interest in Hinata, but he didn't dare. Naruto had already made it quite clear to him, twice, that they were to all think about it. “I...” he glanced at Naruto and this time only saw support, the need for honesty Naruto always demanded. “Not a final answer, since you don't want one tonight, but I would not be... unwilling. To try things between all three of us.”

It was easy to see Naruto's pleasure to his response, the slight relaxing of his body and the smile that curved his lips; easy to watch Hinata go wide-eyed and stare at him in numb surprise. She blinked, a little of her normal calm returning, and then seemed to melt straight into uncertainty. “But you could have any girl, any woman...” Her pale eyes flickered to Naruto and back, and she continued with clear hesitance. “Even with the issue of your defection, there's still an Uchiha fan-club. I’ve heard whispers, others that would be willing to have a night, just for gossiping rights.” The end was barely whispered, her ears and cheeks blazing brilliantly. The words invoked an image of girls whispering in the bathhouse about who they'd fuck, and Sasuke's gut twisted. He hadn't expected that he'd still be on anyone's list.

“I couldn't do that.” He wouldn't even begin to explain just why he said couldn't instead of wouldn't, except part of it was Naruto's possessive streak, and mostly his deep caution about his body. He hadn't lied to Naruto when he'd spoken of his fear, of passing some sort of taint onto any children he might have. He wasn't about to go fucking around just with anyone. And on cue, Naruto looked at him, eyes gleaming in shades of red. Damn Naruto's uncanny sense of knowing, and Sasuke had that feeling he'd been scented out again. He dipped his gaze in deference to the gleam. “I wouldn't,” he insisted.

“The last time you were with someone, outside of your submission to me. When?”

The question tightened Sasuke's throat, invoked flashes of memories. He'd dabbled while he'd been in Sound, not always completely willing. He'd only ever mentioned them in passing to Tsunade and Ibiki, while under interrogation. He'd come to terms with it and shoved it away to stay in the past. “Before I left Sound.” He forced the words out, making his tone something that begged for a change in subject. He didn't see the cringe on Hinata's face, but her throaty sound made him grit his teeth. He didn't want her pity. He'd made his choices and dealt with the consequences. That was the past, and this was his future, sitting at the table with him. Naruto spared him further attention, although his voice had gotten rougher in a way Sasuke was tempted to call possessive.

“I don't want our interest to make you say yes, Hinata. If you choose to allow Sasuke intimate access to you, that's all your choice. I won't make you two do anything with each other that you don't want to, as long as I'm aware of it. I demand a lot from both of you already.” Empty of apology, and Naruto simply stated the facts. “If, and that's a huge if, we all openly share each other, we'll have to talk to Tsunade. She can help us fix it so we can be recognized as a family, with no options of being broken apart. I won't lose either of you if I have a say.” He didn't voice the 'I need you both' that Sasuke had heard multiple times, but the words were felt anyway. Sasuke watched as Hinata abandoned her chair to wrap her arms around wide shoulders, fingers playing with the blonde fringe hanging along Naruto's neck.

Sasuke watched them cuddle for a moment, denying the pang of emotion that might have been jealousy or loneliness. Then she looked at Sasuke, looked at him like her eyes were trying to see everything, his chakra, his mind, his tainted soul. “I promise not to rush my decision, but I won't leave you alone. Either of you.” The soft promise in her eyes, filled with thoughts and worries and other things Sasuke didn't want to even try to decipher, was too much. Sasuke shook his head jerkily and slid away, stroking his wrist over the curve of Naruto's shoulder as he fled toward the bedrooms. He didn't quite touch Hinata, couldn't, really; and only prayed his sudden retreat didn't trigger poorly within his alpha. He needed time to think, let his thoughts run about the whole potential thing of their relationship. He wanted and craved, new things just settling in, but it was too much at once.

He fled, because he couldn't run from his own thoughts, but he could damn well put physical distance between him and everything else. Distance for his own thoughts to mature, without influence. Distance he dared to take, even as he forced himself to stay close. He couldn't truly escape, never run far from the man whose marks passed far deeper than his skin, embedded in his very soul.

The pain of his fist flying through a target in the training room didn't phase him, didn't penetrate the mixed-up mess his brain had descended to. Training dummies and targets exploded, and he was shaking, unaware of the blood dripping steadily over his knuckles. It wasn't until hands caught his wrists, forcing him to stand still, did his mind return to the now. Soothing chakra wrapped around his hands, a fiercer burn rubbed along his arms. Hinata and Naruto, standing on either side of him, he finally realized, healing the wounds he hadn't noticed.

“Stop. Worrying.” Naruto made each word a sentence on its own, a simple command to sink into the haze. Sasuke went limp between them, Naruto's solid presence at his back and Hinata's welcoming body in the front. He inhaled slowly and stood up before maneuvering out form between them, trying to put himself back together to where he knew he needed to be.

“I can't promise.” He bowed slightly, unable to coax a smile to his face. “Goodnight Hinata- san.” He left them standing there, in the middle of a destroyed training room. He felt their eyes watch him go, and didn't care.

The echo of his door slamming reached them moments later. Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata and kissed her cheek before leading her back toward the kitchen to say goodbye.

“Don't worry. He'll come around.”

“Just come back safe.” He brushed the worry lines from her face before kissing her again. “It'll take an act of Kami himself to keep me from coming back, Hinata Hyuga.”

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

The ending feels a little rough for me, but that's where it needed ending. Now, further note decrees that I mention making myself an AFF forums acct so I can post review replies in forum (as per the newer Rules/Regs promoted by AFF rules. I have not started a thread for such replies, considering my judicious lack of reviewers. So I'll make it simple: If i get more reviewers, I'll start a reply thread. If I don't, oh well. DJargo, darlin, did you want an email update when I post, since it's happening more often, but I can't promise how long this new posting speed will last?? It's all up to you...

I am still more than willing to send out chapter update notifications via email to whoever wishes to be updated. Leave your email in a reply or email me a notice to kyuubipawwench at gmail.com from the address you want alerts to go to. Thanks~
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Disguised Curses