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Reflections (Abandoned WIP)	By : Tsukineko9 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1226 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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
- 3
- 4
- 5
Title: Reflections

Author: Cecilia Tsukineko and Kirei Kitsue

Rating: NC-17

Genre and Pairing: yaoi, NaruSasu

Notes: This is our pet project you could say, so the style's a little unique and the effort is huge. ^__^
Chapter Title Translation: "My Way of the Ninja!" or "My Ninja Path!"
Disclaimer: We don't own Naruto! We just borrow it for our own amusement and share the fun!
Authors' Note: This is story is now up-to-date with our webgroup and website with the posting of this chapter. From here the updates will be much slower. This is a very long and involved tale that takes a lot of plotting and discussion and thought between Cecilia and myself and so I ask politely that all of you who are reading this please bear with us. Answers to some of your reviews will follow this chapter.

Chapter Three - Ore no Nindo da!

Part 2

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Hours Later
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"Sasuke," I murmur, shaking his shoulder. "It's time to get up..." Dawn has come and gone, and we're back in the room given to us for our stay here. When Kakashi-sensei came to relieve us at dawn, I didn't bother to wake Sasuke up. Instead, I just carried him here and put him on the bed, falling back asleep myself after lying down next to him. But now there are only a couple hours before the meeting between my lord bastard and the Wind Lord and I know Sasuke wants to be completely awake for that.
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There's something disturbing me... but I need to sleep... I roll onto my side facing away from the disturbance and let one hand slide up to cup the back of my neck-to-shoulder muscle. There's a burning sensation there that's trying to soothe away my conscious mind and let me remain in this black warmth forever. So comfortable that I can't do more than sigh and settle back into sleep, I settle there.
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Sighing, I pick up his hand and bite down hard between his thumb and forefinger. Hey, if it worked once...
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Something sudden and sharp filters through my warm comfort and it's... annoying. I open my eyes to see a world of chakra overlaid reality and blink. Should I be seeing that when I wake up? Where am I? The black warmth tries to claim me again and I'm really tempted to return to it but that annoying sensation isn't going away and I'm... confused by that oddity in my vision. Who is that and why is he... He's biting me! My eyes snap open and that's when it all comes back to me. "Naruto, god damn it, that hurts! Usurakontachi!!" I yell at him but don't lift a hand against him.
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"Good. If it hurts then that means you're awake," I say calmly and let go of his hand, smirking at him. The Seal retreated quickly this time... I hope that's a good sign.
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Staring at him through normal vision I glower and then rub my eyes. I hate mornings. "How much time?" It's all I can think of to say.
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"Two hours. And then Kakashi-sensei's gonna come and get us for the meeting. ...And probably lecture me for the broken mirror and window. It was cleaned up when he started his shift at dawn." I sigh resignedly and fall back into the pillows. I despise being lectured, and I just know what he's gonna say to me. Whee...
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Feeling incredibly lazy and altogether too tired to move at the moment, I scoot closer and rest my head on his shoulder, snuggling up to him with a sigh and close my eyes. I know better than to let myself fall back asleep but a light doze should be fine. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it," I murmur sleepily.
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"Don't you dare fall asleep on me," I say, poking his shoulder. I don't want to take the chance that the damned seal comes awake again.
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"I'm not," I mutter and don't even twitch.
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I poke him again, harder. "Yes, you are. Stay awake."
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"No, dobe, I'm not. I'm... relaxing," I say the truth after a long pause. I'm still not sure that I can be ... open like this, but so far it hasn't been.... terribly hard. We'll see how it goes from here though.
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"Relaxing... riiiiiiiiiiight..." Leaving it at that I fold my arms under my head, staring at the ceiling. "I hope the meeting goes okay... I want this war to end already. And I don't know whether it's a good thing that I can sense Gaara." I can, too. I can feel him from a good mile away, his presence is so strong... I think it has something to do with both of us housing demons. The fox hates Gaara's tanooki with a passion, I know that much. This time though his presence is very close. Within this building, actually. I didn't notice him last night so he must have shown up while I was asleep.
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"Gaara.... Tch. You've already proven yourself against that enemy." I want this war to end just as much as he does, but he knows that already. He knows I have other goals that I'm being diverted from by this stupid war. Now that his arm is out of the way I lay closer to him resting my head on his chest.
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"When did I turn into a pillow?" All I can see is the back of his rooster-tail. ...The weight of his head on my chest is actually a little comforting, and I could really use comfort right now. I'm still... miffed, for lack of a better term since I'm not exactly depressed... from last night. The fox is still hiding in the back of my mind, trying to pretend it's not there. And not doing a very good job.
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"A while ago..." I mutter. At least he doesn't seem as upset or depressed as he had been before. I'm glad, oddly enough. Or maybe not so oddly. It's still a little hard for me to fully believe that I feel so strongly about another person again. There's no denying it at this point, but it's still hard to believe.
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Snorting in amusement, I wriggle out from under him, replacing my chest with a pillow, just to be annoying. It's fun to be annoying around him because it's fun to see the look on his face. It's strangely satisfying to see him all pissy at me. I think it's because it means that I'm getting attention. Maybe not positive attention, but still attention. If there's one thing I hate, it's being ignored when I don't want to be.
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I sigh and bury my face in the pillow. That was probably a bad move on his part because now it'll be his fault if I fall back asleep. Which... I'm thinking I just might... do... My breathing is starting to even out... slowing down�
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Crap! Bad plan! I snatch the pillow away and hit him with it. "No falling asleep!!�
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My eyes snap open and I glare blatantly at him. Jerk.
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I just fox-grin back at him. "Next time it's a glass of cold water if you start falling asleep again," I sing-song, but I mean it. I will do anything to keep him awake.
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"It's your fault dobe..." I grumble and turn over putting my back to him. Who's riling up who now?
"And how is it my fault?�
I remain silent, smoothing out my breathing. I'll get him. I'm on his side of the bed so when he comes with that glass of water, guess what gets wet? Not me, that's for sure.
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Hmmmm... I wonder if he's ticklish... He's presenting me with a very nice target, laying on his side like that. His shirt has ridden up a bit, revealing a slim strip of pale skin. Grinning I reach out silently to attack, fingers wriggling. Not only will it be fun if he proves to be ticklish, but it'll also be a good way to keep him awake. And how can I resist such a tempting target?
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This time my eyes snap open in astonishment and then... I can't help but writhe away from those evil fingers! I try to roll away but he just drags me back and it turns into a wrestling match with him winning because I can't stop him from tickling me long enough to get my breath back! I'm not laughing only by sheer force of will... but if he keeps this up� "Damn bastard! STOP!" I try but it somehow comes out less intimidating than I was trying for.
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"Nope!" I chirp. I will get him to laugh! I will!! I've never heard him laugh - really laugh, not that creepy evil chuckle - and now that I've got him squirming from trying not to laugh, I'm deathly curious. I yank him onto his back and sit on his legs so that he can't move too much, attacking his sides by slipping my hands under his shirt. He is trying soooooo hard not to laugh. Grinning, I tickle harder.
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"Naruto - Uh! You IDIOT!! Let me - Ah! Go! Ah! Ah-ha! Stop!" I try to buck him off but that's not working at all. He's got too much weight and height and all around mass on me for my slender body to be of any resistance. Damn him, he's grinning like the cat that ate the canary! I try again and again to dislodge him, but in the end... I can't help it....
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Deep bells. Waterfalls. The purring of a large cat. Starlight. Pure, clean darkness... that has been tainted around the edges and is slowly being corrupted. I hear all of that in his laugh and my hands stop as I stare at him, my grin melting away. ...I've....never...heard something so wonderful in my whole life... My heart constricts a bit at the taint I could hear, but I know it's because of the Seal. Damn Orochimaru. But still... wow... And then I notice just how tousled and flushed he is now from fighting me and I can't help but blush a bit. I force myself to tear my eyes away. He's�
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I can't help this either... as the laughter fades from my throat my hands reach up slowly. I feel like those elegant pale hands almost belong to someone else as they slide along his cheeks to cradle them in my palms. It's his warm skin that assures me that they are mine even as they force him gently to look at me and pull him down slowly until our breaths mingle. "Bastard," I state, just like always. The only difference? The fact that I kiss him as soon as the word has left my mouth.
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"Am not... you are..." I whisper against his lips, my blush deepening at the feel of his lips against mine. I want... I want to kiss him back... but I don't want to encourage him any more than I already have been. I understand what he told me last night but... I still don't want to get my hopes up that I'll actually manage to recover the territory I've lost to the demon. Caught in a stalemate of indecision I just stay there, hanging over him with our faces only millimeters apart.
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"Point," I concede turning the concession into the kiss I want. I feel like I've been lost in the desert and just managed to steal a glass of water. I've missed this kind of contact, this intimacy, but I've never had anything this good before. This warmth and this taste, the arousing sensation of our lips meshed together in a soft series of kisses... I don't want this to go away.
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...I can't hold back anymore... not when he's kissing me so gently... Slowly I let my lips move against his lightly, not moving the rest of my body at all. Warmth spreads through me, radiating out from all the places where we come in contact, and it's almost heady. I feel... I feel so wonderful it's almost frightening, my nerves tingling and my heart beating so fast... I've never felt like this before and I'm not sure how to react...
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He's finally responding. Took the dobe long enough... Gently, I continue to brush our mouths together, pleased at how quickly he learns what I like and what I'm not too fond of by simple trial and error. I'm almost certain he doesn't realize that that's what he's doing. It doesn't matter though. He's kissing me. I stroke his whiskers gently, though, as an apology when I pull away. We�re so close that our noses brush, but we have room to breathe. My eyes search his face, black traveling over Naruto's features gently seeking to detect any hint of dislike. I'm not finding any. "Naruto..." I murmur softly and lift one hand from his cheek to turn it and caress his cheek with my knuckles.
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His eyes catch mine and it feels like my heart stopped. I'm drowning in an abyss... warm and cool at the same time, and the deepest black I've ever seen... I can't even make out the pupils... My lips burn slightly yet pleasantly, still feeling his lips against them... A trail of heat is left behind by his knuckles on my cheek... Drawn by those eyes I almost don't register it when I move close again, pressing my lips to his in a soft kiss. I've only had small tastes and I'm already addicted...
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I can't say that I'm not surprised. I'm entirely elated though, not an emotion I'm used to. He kissed me this time! My hands slide from his cheeks, one going to the back of his neck while the other goes to tangle in his hair gently. Tentatively, my tongue brushes his bottom lip. I don't want to force him, but I want him to know that the offer is there. I can only hope that he takes it... but either way, this is what I�ve been yearning for.
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I jump a little in surprise and automatically try to pull away, but his hands keep me where I am and I don't fight them. Slowly I part my lips and the tip of my tongue darts out to brush against his, quickly pulling it back. ...He tastes like vanilla and steel. My heart is beating so fast... I've never responded to his kisses before or kissed him but... It feels like somebody lit a fire right in my core and it's getting ready to consume me. I could get addicted to that feeling... I've already lost part of the battle.
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Slowly I let my tongue slip past his parted lips, chasing his tongue as it retreats into his mouth. I've done this a few times before I ever kissed him, but with him I know that I need to go slowly. He's hesitant and his muscles are a little tense, as if he's indecisive as to whether he wants this or not. Naruto, not surprisingly, tastes like ramen - the universal taste of it that carries over all the flavors and lingers in your mouth whether it's Miso pork, beef, shrimp, or any other flavor - but there's also something in his taste that reminds me of crisp fall, the scent of it that leads to that chill taste across the palette of the mouth. Gently, I widen the kiss, opening his mouth enough for me to freely explore every inch of it.
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I shudder at the feeling of him exploring my mouth and this time I do pull away completely, pushing back against his hands. It's not that his tongue in my mouth is unpleasant... it's just so... different. Feeling a little dazed my eyes roam over his face, taking in his pale skin and straight nose and pink lips... that are just begging to be kissed again... Tearing my eyes away from his face I can feel my cheeks burn. I'm not embarrassed, but... oh, I don't know! This is all so new!! I don't know what to do!!
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"What is it?" I ask softly and let my hand slip out of his hair to cup his cheek again. The blush brings out the whiskers a little more, but... I can't think of that pinkening of his cheeks as anything but attractive. It makes me think of some things that probably shouldn't be thought about. At least not yet. Steamy thoughts won't help me keep things slow right now.
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"Nothing..." I mutter, standing up. "Be right back... need to pee." It feels like I'm running away... and I guess in a way I am. But I need to think about this... about how far I'm willing to take this. Shutting the door of the bathroom I lean against it and slide down to the floor, putting my head between my knees. His taste is still sharp in my mouth and my lips can still feel his... I want to go all the way with this. I want to take what he's offering me. But... I'm afraid that if I take it, it'll be taken away... and I don't want that... Or that I'll do something that'll make his life more of a hell then it already is, what with his brother and Orochimaru...
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I lay there for several long moments doing nothing but staring at the ceiling. He didn't panic. Did it do nothing for him? He seemed like he was enjoying it. Or was that him trying to give it a chance? Slowly, I stand and head over to the bathroom door. "Naruto... come out. We need to talk.�
"No."
That's all he says, but I'm not that easily deterred. "Naruto, you don't run away from anything, so get out here."
"No."
"Do I have to come in there?"
Silence. The sound of a body shuffling across the floor away from the door. Sighing, I open the door and enter the bathroom. "Naruto, what's the matter?" I ask as soon as I lay eyes on him.
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"Nothing," I insist, now sitting against the wall and still hugging my knees. I don't want to talk to him about it... at least not yet. Not until I know what exactly I'm gonna do about this whole situation.
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"Obviously, you're lying," I state as I drop to one knee in front of him so that we are at eyelevel. "It didn't feel good, did it." I state. It's ok. It stings my pride a little and it's a little disappointing, but it's ok. I can't expect anything. He's probably still upset after yesterday.
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"No, it... did..." I mumble, staring off to the side so that I don't look at him. It felt amazing... I just don't know how to deal with something like this. I'm not used to people expressing a positive interest in me beyond friendship or camaraderie, and even that's rare in my life compared to everyone else. Never before have the words "I love you" been directed at me, nor has anyone ever wanted to kiss me... Sasuke's done both. ...And I don't know what to do and it's damn frustrating!!
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"You don't have to lie to me, Naruto..." I say my voice feeling a little more stiff. I suppose it's because I'd rather he told me up front than tried to hide it, so I'm a little offended, maybe? I wait quietly, not touching him, or reaching out to do so. He looks.... confused, I suppose is the best way to put it. I want to help him, for once in my life actually do something more than seek vengeance or retribution.
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"M'not lying!" I snap back, glaring at him out of the corner of my eye. I hate it when I tell the truth and people don't believe me. And that glacial look on his face is getting on my nerves. Not even fifteen minutes ago he actually looked his age for once and now he looks like some... I dunno, like something carved out of black ice, the kind that burns like hell when you touch it. Heh, Sasuke is the human equivalent of freezer-burn.
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"Ok.... then tell me what's bothering you..." I coax. I want to know what's wrong. If it was something I did or if he's just being a sissy, or if he's really nervous, or confused about this whole thing or what! I want to make it better. I guess when you admit to having a precious person, everything about them, or about what concerns them begins to matter to you. It's not just losing them, but whether they're happy or even comfortable.
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I sigh and look away again. "I don't know," I mumble. "I dunno anything... how I feel about this, what to do about it..." I add, my voice even softer than before in hopes that he doesn't hear me. I can tell he's trying to be helpful - well, as helpful as Sasuke ever tries to be, which isn't much - but I want to figure this out on my own.
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I'm silent for several long moments. My logical mind tells me now would be an opportune time to back off and give him some space. The side of me that I'm not used to - the part that's been buried for so long - tells me that I should stay and comfort him. I make a compromise by leaning forward and brushing my lips against his temple. "Well, when you feel like you want to talk about it..." I murmur and lean back a little, enough that my weight is mostly on my feet so I can take the hand I'd rested on the ground and brush at his bangs with my fingers. I gently straighten them a little bit over his forehead. "I'll listen." And then I get up and leave him alone, calling over my shoulder, "Breakfast will be here soon," before closing the bathroom door. I'll be paying very close attention to anything going on in there. I don't want a repeat of yesterday.
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I sit there for almost an hour, thinking. A part of me is glad that he left, but another part wishes he would have stayed and... I dunno, hugged me or something. Carefully, I weigh the pros and cons of allowing his advances and actually returning them, because every day it becomes more obvious to me that I'm caught in a whirlwind with no escape. To take the chance and risk it all, or play safe and hide? Argh, if this was any other situation I'd just jump in�So why not this time? What do I have to lose really? ...Well, my heart, but... I sigh. He's already taken that. So really the only thing I have to "gain" is my own heart back in pieces...
...He's worth it.
Anything he is willing to give me is worth that chance. Decision made, I stand, ready to go back and face him.
I put my hand on the doorknob and am about to open it when I hear voices... Oh, a servant with breakfast. I wait until I hear the door close before leaving the bathroom, quietly coming up behind Sasuke. Impulsively, I hug him from behind, my arms tight around his waist.
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I'm absolutely surprised. Surprised enough to start. That says a lot. I didn't even hear him come up behind me while I made two plates up. I was going to call him in once I had the table set, but ... looks like I don't have to. I stand there for a moment in my shock, and then slowly bring the hand not still bracing my fingertips on the table for balance - when he caught from me behind, I started and tipped a little forward to my chagrin - to settle on his overlap of his arms just below my navel. I don't say anything, but I do lean back against him slowly. I'm not sure why, it just... feels right. I'll wait for him to speak. I've said a good deal of my piece already and now it's time to listen.
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Hehehehe, I surprised him! That is not something that happens every day! Feeling even better now - funny how so little a thing as making him jump can lift my mood - I grin against his neck and nuzzle lightly. Not for very long though. I may have decided to give him a chance, but I'm still gonna take this slowly, carefully. This is one of those things you don't just jump right into, especially with so much at stake. "Food looks good," I say simply, letting him go and sitting down with a smirk.
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I nod and simply return his tiny half-grin as I take my own seat. We eat in relative silence. I'm actually feeling the blooming of hope in my chest. It's not a normal sensation and it makes me feel... more human somehow. Like I'm thawing a little. Funny. Everyone always called me the Ice Prince, so it really is funny to think about the feeling like that. I finish off my glass of water and set it back on the table. The servant had said the meeting was delayed for some reason so we've actually got a little time to kill. That's actually damn rude of the Wind Lord, but who am I to complain here? Besides, it won't be that much of a rest. Kakashi and Sakura are going to need a break to rest up a bit themselves so I wouldn't be surprised if they showed up soon - one of them anyway - to drag us to baby-sit Junichiro. Sighing, I stand and stretch, reaching for the ceiling before heading over to the bed. "The meeting was set back some..." I mutter and flop onto my back on the mattress and still mussed sheets.
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"Why? And you better not go back to sleep. I'll bite you again," I warn teasingly, but I give him a look that should tell him I mean it. There has to be a way to get rid of that damned Curse Seal. I hate seeing how hard it is for him to wake up... and it makes me wonder how he ever made it on time to missions before we started... well, sleeping in the same bed. Wow, has it really been over a month? The festival feels like it was months and months ago... (Well, well, look what finally dragged itself out from underneath its own tails. What's the matter, little fox? Where you sca~red? ... Hate you too. Go back to your corner. ... I heard that!!) Finished with my breakfast I sit down on the bed beside him, my legs crossed. Heh, he looks like a girl with his hair fanned all over the pillow. I can't help but snicker a bit.
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"What?" I snap a little at him. I don't like that look. That look almost always bodes poorly for me or someone else... usually me.
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"No~thing," I say with a grin, leaning back on my hands. It's so much fun to rile him up. "And you didn't answer my question. Why was the meeting moved?�
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"The Wind Lord moved it back for some reason....." I answer and continue to look at him warily. "Now answer me... what's so funny?"
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Hmmm... To answer him or not... Ah, what the hell. "You look like a girl with your hair all over the place like that," I state matter-of-factly... with a huge fox-grin.
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I�m about to snap something nasty at him when I stop and then turn my attention to the ceiling again. "So... what are _you_ gonna do about it... Usurakontachi.�
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I hit him with a pillow.
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I grab my pillow out from under my head and whomp him with it in retaliation. Pillow fights are so incredibly immature and childish... which is exactly why he probably needs to have one. If it will make him feel better, then I suppose degrading myself a little bit won't hurt.
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I blink in surprise and stare at him for a moment - I wasn't expecting that at all! - but then I just grin and hit him again, harder. If Uchiha Sasuke is willing to get in a pillow fight, then a pillow fight he is gonna get!!
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Smirking smugly, I hit him harder than he hit me and things just get worse from there.
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"Okay, that's it! WAR!" I yell, grabbing another pillow and beginning a two-handed assault. It's so wonderful to be having fun - real fun - again! I haven't had a decent regress in age since the last time I hung out with Konohamaru-tachi a couple months ago. Feathers are flying everywhere and our "weapons" are looking very worse-for-the-wear, but it doesn't matter cause I'm winning!
Bwahahahahaha-OW!! ...Wha?! How in hell did I end up on my back on the floor?! I open my mouth to yell at Sasuke for hitting me off the bed... but then I notice... he fell with me... and is right on top of me... Oh boy...
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Still as calm and collected as before this pillow fight started, I smirk and lean closer whispering, "I win," smugly leaning closer still, wanting to feel his mouth against mine again... when someone throws open the door. There are still feathers floating down all around us like snow storm and I simply turn to look at the door, still bent over the young man I'm straddling. Kakashi....
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Oh... SHIT!! We're screwed... Really screwed... Aw man!!
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Kakashi just stood there for a moment, looking rather twitchy, and watched the feathers float down to the floor. He eyed the boys for a moment before saying, sounding a bit strained, "You two misfits have five minutes to clean this mess and then it's your shift again... AFTER I have a talk with you." Leaving it at that, he left and closed the door.
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Groaning I rub at my face a bit and let my arms fall back to the floor. When did Kakashi-sensei become so short-fused?! "We are so dead..." I moan.
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"He's overworked and tired. He'll forgive us..." I murmur and face him again and wait for a chance. The second his mouth is uncovered by his hands I dart in and kiss him with a tender yet slightly hungry kiss. I want at least one before we clean the mess up. It's a good thing we're ninja or we would really, really be royally screwed!!
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Wrinkling my nose at him for the stolen kiss, I push him off me and stand up. I grab a pillow case and dart around the room, grabbing feathers and stuffing them into the bag, sneezing occasionally as the shaft bits get into my nose. With Sasuke's help the two of us are our done in two minutes. The bed is even made. The pillows... are still usable... at least by my standards. With three minutes left before my death at Kakashi-sensei's hands, I sit on the bed and flop backwards, being careful to not disturb the pillows too much so I don't make another mess.
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I smirk and sat next to him so that my rump is almost against his side and my back is to him, however I rest my palm - the one closest to his shoulder so I can twist to face him - on the other side of him and lean back on it, letting my other arm lay limply against my stomach. "Ready?" I ask calmly. He looks... good like this.
"Always... all you have to do when being lectured-"
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"Is just look like you're paying attention and think about something else, as long as it isn't funny," Kakashi finished for him as he walked back into the room. "And if you do that, Naruto, I'll make you clean every single bathhouse when we get back to Konoha." Satisfied that he'd gotten his point across when Naruto blanched a bit - he HATED cleaning, especially the bathhouses - Kakashi crossed his arms and gave them a Look. "Now, which one of you would like to tell me what happened to the mirror and window in your bathroom."
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Not. Me. I do NOT want to talk about last night. In fact, I'm trying to forget it completely. Just like every other failed attempt at ending my problems. Without a word I turn my face away.
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::I don't blame you...:: I think at Naruto as I look at him and then I look over my shoulder at my mentor tossing a long bang out of my face. "Naruto and I... had a little spat." There. That's not unusual for us. We're always fighting. It's what we do. It's what we've always done and we haven't changed that part of our friendship at all. Even after we started the charade of being together - I hope it isn't a charade any more... I still feel a little awkward for that thought, but I'm getting used to it slowly - we didn't stop fighting and arguing and insulting each other... we'd just follow it up with a cuddle in plain view of anyone interested afterwards. "If they want, they can bill me for it or take it out of my pay when we get back."
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Kakashi didn't believe him. Naruto looked too... broody for it to have been a simple spat. That and some of the servants had told him they'd seen Naruto last night running for the desert outside the city as if his life depended on it, Sasuke following soon after looking worried - and if people who didn't know him could tell Sasuke was worried, then it was serious. Nodding his head in the direction of the bathroom he went into the smaller room, expecting Sasuke to follow him. If he wouldn't tell the truth around Naruto then maybe he would when it was just the two of them. "What really happened?" he asked firmly when Sasuke shut the door behind him. He was not going to tolerate lying.
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I watch him for a little while and then sigh. He's not going to let this go. Fine. "Naruto's eyes turned red when Junichiro started propositioning me again last night, and when I told him that once we were alone it upset him. I think he looked in the mirror and saw something he didn't like. Everything's under control, Kakashi." I feel like I'm betraying Naruto, but it's better not to force Naruto to tell the tale himself. If I were less of a person I'd justify this by saying 'Well, he told Kakashi-sensei about my Curse Seal problem...' but I just feel... rotten.
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"Is it? Are you sure?" Kakashi asked seriously, completely understanding now why Naruto didn't want to talk about it. He never wanted to talk about anything concerning the fox. "What happened after he broke it? Both of you were seen heading for the desert. And tell me everything, Sasuke. I have to know everything when the Kyuubi is involved, both for Naruto's safety and the safety of this team."
----------------------
The honest thing to do would be to tell him everything. But I'm not liking the idea of telling him more than Naruto probably wants him to know. I'm not someone to tell secrets. I know I have many of them myself and don't want even one of the small ones divulged. "I chased him down. Apparently he was so upset that the only thing he could think of was to get away from everyone. So when I found him we minced a few words and then I.... held him. Not that that's any of your business." I can feel my eyes narrowing at him as I say it. It's the shortened edited version of the truth. It�s as simple as that. I've got Naruto's back just like he's had mine all of these years. It's about damn time I woke up and started returning the favor.
----------------------
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at him, knowing that wasn't the whole truth and waiting for the rest, but when Sasuke stayed stubbornly quiet he sighed and decided to let it drop... for now. He'd wait a couple days before cornering Naruto when the blond was by himself and hopefully get the rest from him. "Get dressed and come over to Junichiro's room. You two are going to watch him while Sakura and I rest for a bit. The meeting will begin in little over an hour," he said as he led Sasuke out of the bathroom so that Naruto could hear him too. "And I expect the two of you to be on your best behavior. Sasuke: no death-glaring, no Sharingan unless it is absolutely necessary, and no sarcasm if you're asked a question. Naruto: NO random comments, no snorting, no rolling your eyes, nothing disrespectful. Understand?" he asked, his tone holding no room for argument. Sasuke nodded, but Naruto didn't move. He was still laying on his side on the bed with his back to Kakashi. "Naruto? Did you hear me?"
-----------****-----------
"Yeah," I mutter. "No being a smartass. Got it." What does he think, that I'm still twelve? I want this meeting to go well just as much as he does! I wait until he's left the room before standing up and going to my backpack for clean clothes. It'll be hard, though, to not be a smartass... Nobles are so pompous and stupid. But I will do my best to hold my tongue. (That means you too, rat! Be quiet and don't distract me! ... Sure, go right ahead. I'll slit my wrists right there to save you the embarrassment of dealing with the results. ... Exactly. Go back to your corner.)
-----------****-----------
I dress quickly keeping one eye on Naruto. He's gotten quiet and brooding again. Deciding it might be in our best interests to cheer him up just a little bit, I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him from behind, nuzzling at his ear. I think he's decided to accept my advances - why else would he have hugged me when he came out of the bathroom? - so perhaps if I'm steady about it... "Relax... We'll be home before you know it." It's all that I can think of to say that's at all comforting. It was something my mother said to me once when I was at an aunt's house and didn't want to be there. It's funny how I never appreciated my mother's words more than I do these days when her memory burns a bitter spark of fiery vengeance deep inside of me, hotter and hotter. But for right now, I know I need something stable in my life. Naruto seems to be that point of stability for me. He has been in the past, but I'd like to make that more permanent. I've got a chance, and I won't pass it up this time.
-----------****-----------
Smiling wistfully, I give his arm a squeeze and lean back into him a bit. As if home will be much better. The only thing is that, there, people expect me to be loud, obnoxious and a smartass. Well, more like a dumbass. But at least they're honest about their dislike of me. Nobles... They like to drop not-so-subtle hints and pretend they like you when they really can't stand you and... Argh, it gets on my nerves to no end!!
...It's nice to have someone that's willing to touch me on their own initiative. The warmth of Sasuke's body against my back is comforting, and I close my eyes, letting the warmth sink in. Giving his arm another squeeze, I slowly pull out of his embrace so I can find a shirt that still looks decent. Long travels and clothing don't get along very well. I'll be really lucky if I find a shirt without a single stain, even after the servants here washed all of our clothes last night.
-----------****-----------
I smirk and head over to my own bag pulling out a shirt and toss it at the back of his head. "There, dobe," I mutter while smirking that usual 'superior' smirk that sometimes gets him riled. Only this time I'm only.... I guess it would be considered teasing.
-----------****-----------
"Bastard," I mutter back, giving him a half-hearted glare as I throw the shirt back at him. "If you want that shirt to stay wearable, don't give it to me, you twig," I taunt with a smirk and pull out a mostly clean, black t-shirt from my bag. There's a little dirt on it, but it's really hard to see, so it should work.
-----------****-----------
I roll my eyes. It might have been a little tighter on him, but it was ten sizes too big on me. Of course I'd considered the width of his shoulders before picking it. I'd brought it along just in case we'd needed to bundle up for whatever reason. Never pack more than you need, but never pack less either. Besides, he's not that much bigger than me! I snort and unfold the now messed up shirt. Tossing anything like that would ruin the best folds. "You were saying?" I state as I display the actual size of the shirt.
-----------****-----------
Just to be annoying I take the shirt after pulling my own on, examine it for a moment, and then pull it over his head before he has time to react, effectively pinning his arms. ...Kinda. Man, he's swimming in that shirt. I guess it would have fit me after all. "Did you raid my closet or something?"
-----------****-----------
I glare murderously at him. I might be willing to open up a little bit to him, but damned if I'm going to stand here and take this!! Not quietly anyway. "Usurakontachi!" I growl, but I can't help the slight twitch at the corner of my mouth that might, maybe, be the beginnings of another smirk.
-----------****-----------
I just grin cheekily and pinch his nose. It is so much fun to get on Sasuke's nerves. "I may be a moron, but at least I don't have a forest jammed up my ass." (What did I say about you being quiet?!) Leaving him to deal with the shirt by himself, I head for my lord bastard's rooms to relieve Kakashi-sensei and Sakura. I wonder if the little prick is still all twitchy...
-----------****-----------
I'm not far behind him, leaving the shirt crumpled up on the bed. Bastard... I'll get him back for that. I enter Junichiro's room just as Kakashi and Sakura are leaving. We get the Look from Kakashi, a smiling warning is the only way to think of it as he mutters, "Be on your best behavior." Yeah, when am I not... Well, other than when Naruto and I provoke each other into a fighting rage over something stupid. I settle on the loveseat couch, which is right where we left it, and fold my arms over my chest. I wonder if Junichiro will try to approach me again... stupid lordling just doesn't seem to get it, but then, he might understand now that Naruto tried to set him as straight as possible... no pun intended.
----------------------
Junichiro was still in his sleeping robes and eating his own lavish breakfast - much more lavish than what the ninja had been given. Out of the corner of his eye he watched as Naruto leaned back against the wall next to the couch, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. (He'd better not fall asleep standing up,) the lordling thought in annoyance, not knowing that Naruto sensed danger best when his eyes weren't distracted. "Did you find your room satisfactory, Sasuke-san?" he asked with polite curiosity as he set aside his plate of smoked fish and picked up the small bowl of rice, choosing to ignore Naruto.
-----------****-----------
I know he's ignoring me, and that's perfectly fine. It's better when people ignore me than when they pay attention to me and do everything they can to make me feel like dirt. I'll let Sasuke deal with the prick and focus on catching possible assassins.
-----------****-----------
I smirk, the one that usually drives the girls wild, and answer, "It was... tolerable. I had a warm bed-partner, so it wasn't bad." Serves the bastard right...
-----------****-----------
Jackass. I whack the back of his head for that smartass comment. Granted, saying that will keep my lord bastard off our backs, but I still have to hit him for it, although I have to hold back a snicker at the sound of the prick trying not to sputter in embarrassment.
-----------****-----------
The swat to the back of my head isn't much. In fact, I�m barely affected by it. It's Junichiro's look that makes it all worth the while though. I lean back in the seat and sigh. Serves him right indeed...
-----------****-----------
Sasuke and I just guard in comfortable silence - well, comfortable for us, anyway - until Kakashi-sensei and Sakura come back. Eventually I get tired of standing and sit next to Sasuke on the couch, leaning comfortably against him. My lord bastard is watching and waiting for an opening to talk to Sasuke, but the looks I give him every once in a while keep him quiet. Heh, maybe having him afraid of me isn't such a bad thing. As soon as he's done eating the little prick darts behind his changing curtain and a couple servants walk in from an adjoining room to help him dress and prepare for the meeting. It's really pathetic when you can't dress yourself.
It isn't long before Kakashi-sensei and Sakura walk in. Kakashi-sensei still looks tense, but not as badly as he was a couple hours ago. Guess he got a nap in or something.
-----------****-----------
I had been watching the windows and doors avidly, but when Naruto leans against me I turn my attention to him for a few moments, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and nuzzle his cheek. I'd nuzzle the top of his head, but he's gotten so damn tall that I can't reach to do it properly. Oh, well. I should be paying more attention to things going on around me right now anyway. It's really nice to have someone that will lean against me and not try to slip a hand down my shorts or up my shirt immediately. Stupid fan girls... and Junichiro is the same damn way so part of the anger I feel at that clique of the world is directed at the changing curtain behind which he is being dressed. Actually a lot of it is... The only thing I have to thank him for is the extra boost his idiocy has brought to my and Naruto's relationship.
----------------------
Just as Kakashi and Sakura walked in, Junichiro came out from behind the screen. Seeing that all four ninja were present he nodded and led the way out of the room, two of his attendants following him.
Wordlessly, Kakashi directed his team into a box formation around the lordling and his servants, walking silently towards the meeting room. He walked behind with Sakura, the boys walking in front of Junichiro. This way he could watch them and make sure they didn't try to do anything stupid, especially Naruto.
When they got to the room, one of Junichiro's servants knocked on the large wooden door, waiting for the Wind Lord's call of "Enter!" before opening it and bowing as Junichiro passed. As soon as Junichiro got to the center of the room he bowed deeply to the Wind Lord and said, "Good morning, your Excellency. We are honored that you allow us to be in your presence."
The Wind Lord smiled cordially and spread his arms wide in greeting, the long, billowed sleeves of his robes swaying from the weight of the material. "It is an honor to have you... Please. Take your seat and let us begin," he replied and gestured. He had risen himself upon hearing the knock so that he was not insulting Junichiro.
Junichiro bowed a little deeper in thanks before straightening and sitting down on the offered cushion, his attendants sitting right behind him. Sasuke and Naruto sat down on either side of him, just a little behind him. There was a good four feet between him and each of them, giving them plenty of room to move if they have to. Kakashi and Sakura sat behind them, the four ninja making a trapezoid around the lordling. More pleasantries were exchanged between the nobles before they got down to business.
"As you know, Excellency, the reason we are here is to discuss a better way to manage the Hidden Village of the Sand," Junichiro began. "Your predecessor, rest his soul, made a few erroneous decisions and it is in the best interest of both our countries for those errors to be corrected."
"My village is a strong village," the Wind Lord stated. "We understand the Leaf's concern, but we are also well aware of the fact that we fully capable of maintaining ourselves."
It seemed that the Wind Lord would not submit easily. The determined look in his eyes was solid and firm. The Wind Country would stand on its own for as long as it possibly good and go down fighting when the time came.
----------------------
I can't believe these people sometimes. They always look at the worst possible outcomes. As diplomats they should think of all possible outcomes first and then seek to learn more before stating something as pompous as that. Turning my attention from their words entirely, I focus my attention on scanning the crowd of Wind Nobles, nosy bastards, whispering behind their fans. I'm feeling a little uncomfortable... uneasy all of a sudden. It's been coming on gradually really, but I pass it off as the insane heat here and continue to watch each face in the crowd.
-----------****-----------
I bite back the urge to snap, 'Then why did Sand join with Sound, bastard?' I am so sick of the war with Orochimaru and his oversized gang of bullies... This meeting better mean the end of the war or I'll do everything I can to end it myself. I'm sick of the heartbroken wails of children when they find out they lost their parents on the battlefield. I miss the kids' smiles, their laughter... both of which are rare now. (Shut up, damn fox. So I like kids. ... Was that really necessary?!) I'd do anything to get them back, and if this meeting doesn't work... O-ho-ho, I'll go to Sound myself and wipe it out, even if I have to go down with it. (Do you want a repeat of last night?!)
(...Didn't think so. Shut up.)
----------------------
"Forgive us, but we must disagree," Junichiro countered politely. "Had it not been for the last Wind Lord's decision to cut back funds to the Hidden Village of the Sand, we would not be in this conflict right now. We have sufficient information to conclude that it was this lack of funds, and thus lowering in the number of ninja, that led the former Kazekage to join with the monster Orochimaru. Since then both of our villages have lost considerable numbers of ninja, leaving both our countries vulnerable."
"The funds to the Hidden Village of the Sand are being gradually restored, and we are well on our own way to mending past wrongs. We feel there is no need for the Hidden Village of the Leaf to step in and direct our actions, for we are doing well directing our own." The Wind Lord remained firm, completely unwavering in his convictions, so that it was beginning - even this early in the meeting - to seem a losing battle.
Fortunately for Konoha, Junichiro could be just as firm and even more stubborn. "Again, I must ask you to forgive us, but in our eyes those actions are not proceeding quickly enough. If things continue at the pace they are going at now, very soon neither of our countries will be able to defend themselves from an attack from another country, even if we were to join forces. We must insist that you mend those past wrongs in a more efficient, fast-paced manner."
"And what does Konohagakure then wish to do to speed up these processes?" the Wind Lord asked, his politeness never wavering.
-----------****-----------
The sudden burning sensation at the back of the muscle that joins my neck to my shoulder can only mean one thing. I feel my heart skip and then jolt into a faster rhythm, my blood and adrenaline rushing through my veins in gushes. It's him. It's. Him. That's the only thought in my head as I sit upright completely and my eyes search the crowd. An indiscernible figure approaches the Wind Lord and begs his pardon before leaning down to speak softly to him. I can't catch the words, but I'm more interested in finding Him. As the person leans away - I can't tell whether it�s a man or a woman - and turns to go, I call on the Sharingan softly and snarl. I'm on my feet and out the door, hard on the heels of the Snake Bastard, before Kakashi can stop me. I'm going to kill him if I can corner him. I swear I will!
-----------****-----------
The hell? What is Sasuke doing?! Wait... that scent... I heighten my sense of smell for a moment and have to fight the urge to gag. Orochimaru... I'd know that bastard's putrid stench anywhere. (Relax, you'll get your fun in a minute.) I start to get up to follow Sasuke, but a quiet cough makes me pause. Kakashi-sensei's giving me a warning look. Growling, quietly I sit back down, my eyes on the door that Sasuke went though. The instant I hear anything like the sounds of a fight, I'm leaving.
----------------------
Junichiro was just about to answer the Wind Lord's question when the scream of Chidori filled the room, and the lordling had to grab his hat so that it didn't fly off as Naruto ran past him. (What in the world?!)
Kakashi didn't go after the boys, knowing better than to leave Junichiro in Sakura's care alone. However, he was already formulating a scathing lecture for later. This behavior was unacceptable!
----------------------
I find Sasuke easily by following the sound of Chidori, but by the time I get there he's alone. No snake bastard in sight. "Shit," I growl. "Did you manage to get a hit on him at least?"
-----------****-----------
I snarl and send my right fist into the stone wall to my left. "He was gone before I even got close... God DAMN IT!!" It pisses me off. I know my brother is more powerful than he is! He's freaking scared shitless of Itachi! And I can't even lay a hit on him!! Damn it!!!
It's probably a very good thing that my fist didn't actually go through the stone... Kakashi would have skinned me. Leaning my weight on the fist against the wall as a small wave of dizziness hits me, I let my left arm curl up until I can touch the Curse Seal. It's still pulsing and throbbing faintly, burning with the sickness it holds. Damn it... He�s screwing with us, proving that he has nothing to fear by showing himself like this!
-----------****-----------
I see the Seal on his neck flare red and scowl. Problems with the snake bastard are the last thing we need right now. I don't even want to think about what our sudden escape of the meeting did to the negotiations. Or about Kakashi-sensei's lecture... and I know there's going to be one. But right now the important thing is keeping Sasuke calm so that the Curse Seal doesn't take him over.
Reaching out, I put my hand on his arm to get his attention. "C'mon, let's go back to the room," I state. "You can't go back to the meeting with that thing flaring like that." And I'm not going to let him out of my sight until I'm sure he has control of himself again.
-----------****-----------
I'm about to jerk my arm free, ready to tell him off, when it dawns on me that that lurking feeling is starting in the back of my mind. This must be what Naruto deals with regularly, I realize, and then realize how odd and disjointed that thought is from my situation. Then again, maybe it isn't.
Sighing, I turn my face to him partially and then nod stiffly. Before he can say anything else I'm on my way to our room where I settle on the couch immediately and sulk. I know it's sulking, but he probably doesn't realize that. He probably just sees closed off, pissy old-Sasuke. I lean back and glower into vacant space trying to calm myself down.
-----------****-----------
"Do you have any idea just how constipated you look right now?" I ask him as I lay down on the bed, folding my arms behind my head. "It looks like you're trying to shit a forest." (Okay, how did you get that from what I just said?! ... I had to ask... Shut up. ... I know we're not in the meeting anymore, but that doesn't mean you can talk. ... Don't make me get a kunai. ... Good.) I know that provoking Sasuke probably isn't the best idea right now, but if I let him brood on the reason for his anger he's just gonna get pissier and pissier because he can't do anything about it. At least I react and I'm a source of anger that he can do something about. (That is not what I meant and you know it!!)
-----------****-----------
I turn my glare on him and snap, "What the hell would you know?!" Rather viciously actually. I'm feeling surly and I don't want to deal with his attitude. "If you're going to be a dick, then take it somewhere else," I add and stare off into space again. I can't help but push him away a little right now. Better to push him away a little than to outright attack him like my rage is trying to get me to do. I've been having a lot of trouble controlling certain aspects of my temper... and right now I can't really control it as a whole at all.
-----------****-----------
"Just making an observation. And you're the one that's being a dick right now," I shoot back calmly. Actually, I know a lot about what he's going through right now, but I have a feeling that he doesn't want to hear it at the moment, especially when I'm trying to make him explode so that he releases some of his tension. (Do you have to put a horny spin on all of my thoughts?!?!)
-----------****-----------
"I have a valid reason to be a dick right now, Naruto." I feel my molars grind on my words and literally feel the back of my neck tense and tingle as my temper rises closer and closer to the surface I've tried to drown it beneath. "You don't, so either shut up, or go away."
-----------****-----------
"Considering that I have just as many scores to settle with the snake bastard as you, I do have a valid reason, but you don't see me giving myself an ulcer about it." I stay outwardly calm even though my insides are beginning to boil. I'm being nice to him, dammit! The least he could do is be a little less of a prick!
-----------****-----------
"Oh, you do? Well, then tell me Naruto, what the hell you have to settle with Orochimaru," I say coldly. That's right, Sasuke, keep it chill and maybe you can get everything back under control.
-----------****-----------
"I don't see why I should tell you when you're being such a bastard," I state with equal coldness, glaring at him.
-----------****-----------
"So, you're saying that you don't have anything," I state smugly.
-----------****-----------
"I'm saying I don't have to tell you anything when you're being all pissy and 'oh my life is so horrible, pity me, world!'" I say that last bit in an imitation of a really bad actress.
-----------****-----------
I roll my eyes. Now he's being stupid and ridiculous. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I snap turning my full glare on him once more. He's really starting to piss me off. He has no idea of all the shit I've been through thanks to that creepy bastard's obsession with me! It's not like he ever cared what happened to me anyway! He only went after me all those times for stupid Sakura, another person with a creepy obsession!
I can feel my temper slipping through my fingers as if I'm watching it happen in a dream from a distance, and honestly I don't think I could do much to stop it even if I tried right now.
-----------****-----------
I just scratch at my nose and shrug, hiding my annoyance with him. "All you ever do is complain about how horrible your life is and whine about how you need power to kill your brother. If you actually trained more instead of whining about how much stronger you need to get, you probably would have killed him by now."
-----------****-----------
There are a hundred things I could retort with. A hundred hurtful, scathing, nasty comments I could throw at him about how he doesn't understand, how he couldn't understand because there's no one he has ever loved that he's lost. Really loved and really lost... Instead I bait him. It's better than really hurting him. I've learned my lessons about that.
"So, why the hell haven't you fucking killed Itachi by now then?! You've had ample opportunities! It's not like you give a damn whether there's a vendetta against him or not! You speak awfully big for someone who's probably useless without that thing!"
Uhm... actually that was a little over the top of what I have originally intended to say... Shit. And I'm not really able to take it back, can't even though I want to. I don�t remember getting to my feet, but that�s where I�m finding myself right now.
-----------****-----------
Before even I realize it my hand is around his throat and he is pinned against the wall, my fingers tight enough to probably leave bruises. "I haven't killed your bastard brother because that's your job, asshole," I growl, baring my teeth in a vicious snarl. "And personally I don't care about him. All I have to do to keep him from taking what he wants from me is a kunai in my heart.
"As for that thing... be very grateful that you can see and kill your demons," I hiss before letting him go, clamping down on my anger before the fox can come out.
-----------****-----------
I'm silent for a long moment, refraining from coughing after that kind of pressure was taken from my throat and then I sigh and settle on the couch again, slumping forward. "We both have demons that we can't kill. And honestly... at least you can't see yours. It's not dangling in front of you, just out of reach..."
It's the best I can do for an apology. I knew I was out of line the minute the words left my mouth, but there really wasn't any way I could have taken them back. I tried not to push him like that... but then I can't think really clearly in times like this, or I think one thing and do another like I have no control of anything. I feel the weight of depression settle on my shoulders and it makes me feel even more pissy, but at a lower key.
-----------****-----------
"If it's dangling just out of your reach then run faster," I snap, standing over him and no longer able to show a semblance of calm. "At least you have a chance to catch yours." I don't like the way this conversation is going and head for the bathroom and privacy. (Damn fox...) "Shut up, parasite," I growl under my breath.
-----------****-----------
I watch him go into the bathroom and shut the door, then sigh and stand slowly, leaving the room and heading for a place where I can sit by myself for a little while. He didn't help my attitude any and I only made things worse than he was already making them... My life is so screwed up. And his apparently isn't much better. Settling on a stool in a bar like restaurant, I order something to drink and then play with the quickly melting ice.
----------------------
Kakashi went searching for him a few hours later, the meeting over. In the end Junichiro hadn't convinced the Wind Lord to submit to Konoha, but they had decided on a way to determine whether he would. As soon as the meeting was done and Junichiro back in his room, Kakashi had left Sakura with him to find the boys and chew them out for leaving. He'd only found Naruto, brooding face down on the bed. Naruto had told him the jist of what had happened... after Kakashi was done scolding.
Without a word, Kakashi sat down next to Sasuke. He was quiet for a long moment before saying softly, "I hear it was Orochimaru you went chasing after."
----------------------
"And he got away," I snap and then take a sip of my drink. I don't want to talk about this again! Why do they always have to pester me? Kakashi seems to especially delight in being annoying.
----------------------
"He's good at that," Kakashi said quietly, not reacting at all to Sasuke's tone. "You ready to come back yet?" he asked, deciding the best plan of action was to get Sasuke thinking about something other than his problems. "I have to talk to the three of you about the situation. We're going to be here longer than previously expected."
----------------------
Sighing, I decide staying here by myself isn't completing the mission. Standing, I look to him and wait for him to lead the way after dropping money on the counter.
-----------****-----------
Nodding in approval, Kakashi led him back to the Wind Lord's manor and to Junichiro's room where Naruto and Sakura were guarding. He motioned his students to him and said for the boys' benefit, "The Wind Lord refused our demands and now there's going to be a battle to settle differences. Naruto, you have to fight Gaara day after tomorrow."
Junichiro listened silently from his seat by the window, waiting for Naruto's reaction.
----------------------
"I have to what?" I deadpan. Did Kakashi-sensei just say what I thought he said?! Oh damn, he did... "Why do I have to fight?" Not that I have anything against a battle, it's just that I don't like the idea of the result of these negotiations resting on the outcome of a fight I have to participate in. Talk about pressure!
----------------------
�Because both you and Gaara have demons, meaning you are both representatives of your respective village's power, and you're on even footing for the battle," Kakashi explained.
-----------****-----------
I glance at Naruto quietly and then look back to Kakashi. "How does Naruto and Gaara fighting solve anything? Are they stupid or insane? Letting two demons fight each other just to decide who's right and who's wrong is absolutely ridiculous. The only thing it will prove is which demon-holder is the smarter and resourceful. Which one of them can use that asset to their fullest advantage. It's not going to prove that Konoha or Suna is stronger. Obviously, no matter what the outcome of this battle is, both countries have overcome demons before. It can be done again."
----------------------
Sakura, who had remained quiet during the very brief briefing of her two teammates, spoke up softly, saying, "Regardless, Sasuke-kun... It's already been decided. We gave our word and we have to stand by it. As crazy as it sounds and as unhelpful as it may be, at least if we win the Wind Lord will submit to our demands. That's really what this mission is about. So, long as that is accomplished and justly, then that's really all that matters."
"And it was Orochimaru's idea," Kakashi added, ready to cover his ears in case of an explosion. Which he got.
-----------****-----------
"Then there�s no way in hell that I�m fighting!!" I exclaim, glaring at my sensei. "That snake bastard's probably gonna fix it or something!!" Gods, as if my day couldn't get any worse! I have to fight with Gaara because that bastard told the Wind Lord to arrange it?! Either he's looking for me to die or he's gonna hide somewhere and scope out how powerful we've gotten! No way am I going to let him kill me or get information!! No way in hell!! (I don't care if you want to fight, I'm not doing it!! ... NO!! ... I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE BORED!!)
----------------------
Before Kakashi could try to calm Naruto down, Junichiro spoke up. He was looking a little twitchy thanks to Sasuke's comment about him being insane. "You will fight. It does not matter whose idea it is so long as you win," he said firmly. He outright glared at Naruto in response to the blond presenting him with his middle finger.
"Naruto..." Kakashi growled in warning. That kind of behavior was not going to be tolerated around clients, especially noble clients.
Sakura sighed. Naruto was always difficult when they needed him to be cooperative. "Naruto! You have to understand that this is our easy way out. If not this, then the war continues. We can't just refuse to end the war!"
-----------****-----------
"We also can't force him to fight," I state calmly and look over my shoulder at Junichiro. "I'm sure you're a talented enough diplomat... Tell the Wind Lord that one of your regular Shinobi will take the place of 'the demon-holder'. I'll do it."
It's crazy, but it also isn't right to force Naruto into doing anything. He's right. Orochimaru will almost definitely rig the fight. There's always the chance that I could be wrong on that, but at least if I'm the one that's fighting, Naruto won't be in any danger of anything that the bastard could put out against him. I've already damned by him, so it doesn't matter what happens to me in that respect. I really only have one purpose in life and that's taking care of my brother. So, long as I live long enough to do that, then it doesn't matter how much I destroy this body or my soul.
-----------****-----------
"Like hell you will!!" I yell. "You're not gonna fight Gaara!!"
"And why not?" I hear my lord bastard ask primly, the sound of his voice grating on my nerves. "He is willing to do it while you are not."
"'Cause Gaara will kill him and there is no way in hell I'm gonna give that snake bastard a chance to mess with him more than he already has!!" I yell at him, glaring. Dammit, I don't have a choice. Only I stand a chance against Gaara and I know there's no way those two noble bastards are gonna call the fight off.
My lord bastard is giving me a look that's making me wanna snap his neck. Smug dumbass. "Someone has to fight. If not you or Sasuke-san, then who?" he asks.
I grind my teeth. I hate being forced into a corner and that's just what's happening to me. "I'll do it," I growl. (Did you just whoop?!?! ... Please don't ever do that again. You just about gave me a heart attack.)
-----------****-----------
With everything decided then, since I don't object any further, Naruto and I are dismissed. No one is going to try and tell Naruto how to win this fight. It isn't a game that can be decided play by play. Naruto will be battling for not only his countries honor and supremacy, but also to stay alive. Something a ninja does every day. Once we're in our room I turn to face him. The door is shut and locked behind me, so I move in and sit on the mattress and pat the empty space beside me.
"You didn't have to agree to fight, Naruto. That wasn't what I wanted you to do..."
-----------****-----------
"I know it's not," I grumble, leaning against the wall next to the door. I don't feel like sitting down on the bed right now. Sighing, I run a hand through my hair and make a face as I scratch at my scalp. Damn sand! I'm not worried about the fight. I've won against Gaara before and I can do it again, especially now that I have Rasengan and can summon properly now. My only problem with it is that Orochimaru is the cause... just like he's the cause of so many other problems in my life... damn snake bastard.
-----------****-----------
Scooting until I can lean against the headboard, I say, "Naruto, you don't have to fight because you're worried about me. I can handle Gaara."
I don't say anything about Orochimaru. He'll be there and he'll be a problem. He's always a problem when he's around. I just hope there isn't some grander scheme in all of this.
-----------****-----------
"I'm not worried about you and no, you can't handle Gaara," I state firmly, sliding down to the floor and bringing my knees up to rest my elbows on them. ...Okay, so I really am worried about him, but I'm not going to admit it. At least not right now. (If you don't shut up I'm going to rip your tails off, fox!)
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"'Cause Gaara'll kill him and there is no way in hell I'm gonna give that snake bastard a chance to mess with him more than he already has!!" I repeat back to him. "Isn't that the first thing you said?"
I'm not going to argue with him about Gaara. That would take forever. It isn't worth it especially since I'm not the one that's going to be fighting. It's a moot point. So, I'll talk about this instead. I had thought we were at least leaning towards some form of closer relationship, but maybe now he's having second thoughts.
-----------****-----------
"What are you, a parrot?" I grumble, slouching and refusing to look at him. I'm still annoyed with him from our earlier conversation after Orochimaru got away and I don't really want to talk to him just now.
-----------****-----------
"No. Stop pouting. It doesn't suit the loud idiot you pretend to be all the time. If something's bothering you, tell me."
Enough screwing around. He's upset and it's probably about earlier but I need to know what it is exactly that he feels before I can try and fix it. I hate this emotional crap... but I asked for it.
-----------****-----------
He wants to see pouting? I'll show him pouting. Not saying a word I get up and walk over to the bed only to crawl underneath it, making it very clear that I don't want to talk to him right now. ...But at least he said I only pretend to be an idiot. That lifts my mood a little. Not enough for me to talk to him though.
-----------****-----------
"Naruto," I growl. "This is ridiculous. You don't belong under the bed."
I stare at the ceiling willing my temper to stay even. This really is quite ridiculous. He could die in two days and he wants to crawl under the bed rather than talk to me...
"You know what, fine. Stay under there," I snap a little and stand up, heading over to the bathroom. I clean up in silence and then change into pajamas. I'll at least be sleeping comfortably tonight... until it's our turn to baby-sit.
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I stay down there until I hear his breathing even out in sleep. Then I crawl out from under the bed to change and get ready for bed, arguing with the fox all the while because now it's all excited about the fight.
When I come out of the bathroom, I just stand by the bed, looking down at Sasuke. (No way in hell!! Suggest something like that again and I am gonna find a way to castrate you!!) I'm tempted to crawl back underneath the bed just to be a brat, but there's no real point since he's already asleep... and it's kinda awkward down there. Sighing deeply, I get between the sheets and lay down next to him... but now I can't get comfortable... I've gotten used to holding or being held by Sasuke in my sleep. Grumbling, I give in to habit and spoon up against his back. ...I'm asleep almost immediately.
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*2AM The Next Morning*
----------------------
There's a loud knock at the door, and I wake slowly to it. Once I realize where I am, who I'm with and what the loud, obnoxious noise is I yell a disgruntled, "We'll be out," and leave it at that. I'm not really inclined to move at the moment anyway. Not with Naruto right there holding me while I hold him. Sighing, I bury my nose in his chest and snuggle closer. Kakashi - because only he could knock that loudly - probably woke us up with a half an hour to spare, so that I could wake up some. I find it's still really hard to stay awake, to not let my mind go back to blank blackness and not think. I can feel the nothingness of sleep pulling hard at my conscious mind. Shrugging it off as best as I can, I give in to the temptation and plant a soft and gentle kiss in the hollow of Naruto's throat between his collarbones. His neck will give me something to do while I try to stay awake. At the same time it should wake him up... killing two birds with one stone.
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"Nngh... tickles... stopit..." I slur sleepily as I slowly wake up in response to something soft brushing against my neck. Too warm and comfortable to move much I just squirm a bit, trying to get my neck away from whatever's tickling it. I want to go back to sleep...
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"Iie," I murmur and just keep doing it, my mouth seeming to have a mind of its own. His skin tastes good, so why should I stop? My hands tighten in the back of his sleeping shirt holding him tighter against me as I lift my chin slowly kissing and now nipping my way up his throat.
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That really tickles and I squirm more, trying to get away from whatever it is that's trying to eat my neck. I crack one eye open to see what it is that's doing this and get an eyeful of black-blue hair. Sasuke. Okay, no way I can be awake... so this is just a really weird dream... Mou, I hope the damn fox isn't gonna give me a wet dream again... It's always so embarrassing.
Whoa, wait, what was that?! Oh... right there... oh that feels good... I stop squirming and shiver instead in response to whatever it is teasing my neck just under my jaw.
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Oo, a positive response. Now there's fodder for future use. I brush the spot again with my lips and then nip lightly before soothing the spot with my tongue. This is all sort of surreal to me... almost as if it's a dream. It doesn't matter one way or the other because I'm not going to stop, but at least I have the feeling that this is real, and if he's really responding like this, that's a good sign, so I'm actually pretty happy about this. My thoughts feel out of sync a little bit, but my body sure seems to know what to do, so I don't fight it and go with the flow.
-----------****-----------
I'm purring... When did I start purring? And since when have I been able to purr? ...Ooooh... never mind... ooohhhhh that feels good... I vaguely register my fingers tightening in the back of dream-Sasuke's shirt, pulling him closer in hopes that he doesn't stop whatever it is he's doing on my neck. It makes me shiver but in a good way... oooooohhh, very good...
-----------****-----------
The sound he makes sends a bolt of arousal right to my groin. Squirming a little myself, I let my lips and teeth and tongue drift along the underside of his jaw towards his ear until I'm right there where neck and ear and jaw all meet. I'm getting a little hot now and it makes me shift a little, wanting more and relief at the same time. A small sound leaves my throat and vibrates the skin I'm sucking at gently. He just tastes and sounds so good...
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I hear a long, low moan and realize it's me making that sound... and then I do it again when he makes that noise again, the one that makes me shudder. I pull him closer and one of my hands crawl up unbidden to curl around the back of his neck, holding him against my neck so that he doesn't stop. That feels really good...
OW! He BIT me! Surprised, I jerk my neck away and stare at him, blinking dazedly. Dreams aren't supposed to hurt... right?
-----------****-----------
I look at him, my pupils dilated far more than they should be, but I'm not worried about that at the moment. My arms tighten around him again and I nibble at his more readily accessible collarbones instead, soft nips followed by gentle licks and kisses. He really does taste good... and my body's telling me this is the right thing to do. This will lead to better things, things that feel even better than this. Nothing's really being done to me but my body is thrilled by everything anyway.
-----------****-----------
I moan again, softer this time. What he's doing now doesn't feel as good as what he did to my neck, but it still makes me all shivery. I tilt my head forward to nuzzle the top of his head, happily inhaling his unique scent as my embrace tightens. Wait, this is a dream, right? That means I can do whatever I want and not worry about what's going to happen later, right? Right and right.
Deciding that I want make dream-Sasuke shivery too, I brush my lips against his forehead and nuzzle, coaxing him to lift his head. I want a kiss... I want a kiss from him...
-----------****-----------
It's hard to ignore that kind of encouragement, especially when it makes my stomach feel hollow and tingly. I kiss my way back up to his chin and then pull my head back a little bit to look at him with a curious and yet slightly blank expression. It's odd how I can feel my expressions and yet I have no control over them at the moment.
-----------****-----------
I gaze back at him, but our eyes aren't locked together for long as my eyelids suddenly get much to heavy to keep open. Leaning forward, I press my lips firmly against his, feeling confident that this kiss is going to be absolutely wonderful like everything else in this dream so far. Granted, things can go wrong in dreams too, but this one has been amazing so far... Maybe the fox is giving me a wet dream again... but for once I can't seem to care. Never before have my dreams been so... sensation-filled...
Actually, the fox hasn't said or done anything at all this whole time... weird... But I just shrug it off. There are more important things going on right now. My arms tighten around dream-Sasuke, pulling him as close so I can as I nibble on his bottom lip.
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My own lids slide shut seconds after his drift closed. The nibbling on my lower lip is all the encouragement I need to let my lips fall open as we kiss. I'm more than willing to be invaded and explored right now. The very thought of it made a cold chill ghost over my skin, followed instantly by a wash of heat. It makes me shiver slightly as my tongue flicks out lightly to caress Naruto's lips encouragingly.
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A tremor races through me and I part my lips, inviting his tongue into my mouth as I slip mine into his. I hear a moan and I don't know if it came from him or me or both of us... but I don't care. My hands knead his back as I slowly and thoroughly explore his mouth, determined to memorize every single detail so that I can remember them even when I'm awake... Because even though I haven't admitted it to anyone but myself yet, I do love Sasuke... Oh man, this is going to make it so hard to keep a straight face around him...
Wow he tastes good... I think I could live off his taste... Does he taste this good in real life?
-----------****-----------
I moan and press closer to him as our tongues mingle back and forth. He tastes like ramen and something else, something deep and multilayered. I can't quite put my finger on it, but at the moment, who cares? It tastes good and it tastes like I would expect him to taste and there isn't anything better than that.
Suddenly feeling the need to move, the urge to shift, I roll him onto his back so that I'm straddling his stomach, but keep most of my weight on my knees rather than on him. At the same time, my arms unwind from about his body and I reach up to tangle my fingers in his hair as I deepen the kiss, drawing it out as I caress and explore and memorize every square centimeter of his warm, delectable mouth.
-----------****-----------
Air... I need air but I don't want to stop... I don't... Moaning in disappointment, my lungs burning, I break the kiss but keep my lips just barely brushing against his as I pant for breath. "I love you, Sasuke..." I whisper, feeling safe to say it since this is just a dream. "Stay with me forever... Please?" I ask as I nuzzle his face, my hands slipping underneath the hem of his shirt to caress his lithe back and pull him down so that he actually is lying on top of me... and I immediately decide I very much like having a blanket that breathes.
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The feeling of Naruto's stomach under my rump, rising and falling as he pants for breath in time with my own ragged breathing, is absolutely amazing. I brush my lips against his briefly as he pulls away but then he's talking to me and my heart stops only to resume at an insane tempo. He said it... "For an eternity, Naruto," I whisper, my lips brushing his and making the words into kisses. "I love you."
His hands on my back make me shudder and shift rubbing my body against his. Hard muscle against hard muscle, all of it relaxed and soft at the moment, is the most arousing sensation. My lips travel to that place on his neck again and I tease the flesh there sucking gently after brushing it with a few loving kisses. If he likes it, then he's going to get as much of it as I can give him.
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"Promise?" I whisper around a deep moan, turning my head to the side so he has plenty of room to tease that spot... Oooooooohhh that feels good... My shivers are turning into shudders and my hands move up his back to knead the back of his shoulders encouragingly. I don't want to wake up... ever. This is the most perfect dream and I want it to continue forever... because then I wouldn't have to worry about Sasuke dying or going back to Orochimaru or falling out of love with me.
"Promise you'll stay with me forever... never leave me... please, Sasuke, don't ever leave me..." I whisper almost desperately. "I don't want to be alone anymore..."
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I lift my mouth to his ear as I bring one of my hands up to caress the cheek my own cheek isn't crushing. "I swear I'll never leave you again, Naruto. You won't be alone any more. I'll hold you until my last breath," I vow and lick the shell of his ear, my tongue teasing it in swirls right down to dip briefly into the canal, teasing him in innuendo. His hands on my shoulderblades make me shiver.
The fact that I'm shorter than him is working a little bit to my disadvantage here for right now. The way I'm sitting and bending forward to kiss and tease him makes it hard for me to get the friction my erection is demanding, so I shift again and let my butt slide out from underneath me so that I'm almost stretched out lying on him, covering him.
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Purring - when did I start doing that again? - I roll us over so that he's underneath me and pull his shirt off before he can realize what's going on. I can feel my chest shaking as my heart pounds rapidly in response to his words, the strong muscle swollen with joy and love for this heavenly vision below me. Cupping his face in my hands I whisper into his ear, "Thank you," pouring all my heartfelt sincerity and love into those two simple words. Now if only I could really get him to say that... and to keep his promise.
Slowly, my hands smooth down from his face and across his slim neck to explore his chest, my eyes following my hands over the pale, finely muscled flesh. So beautiful...
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The words "so beautiful" whisper past his lips as his hands rake over my chest just like his eyes and I actually feel myself blush. I wrap my lower legs around him since he had ended up between them and let my knees hold his hips snugly. Those words have never meant anything to me ... before tonight. I let my hands reach up and brush against his whiskers. "There's nothing to thank me for. I love you and I'll never," I pull him down so that I can whisper against his mouth, "leave you again. Never."
I kiss him then, deeply, before letting him go to look into his eyes. I can still feel the lingering touch of the Curse Seal, but... it's very faint. "Koishii..."
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Never... never in my life has anyone ever called me anything like that. It's always "brat" or "kid" or "dumbass" or "pest" or "monster"... never "beloved"... and to hear that term in Sasuke's warm, deep voice, directed at me, even if this is a dream... Oh, gods, I think I could die from just how happy I feel right now.
My cheeks are suddenly wet with elated tears and I wrap my arms tightly around him, clinging to him as I bury my face in his neck. "I don't want to wake up... I want to stay like this forever..." I whisper, smiling softly against his skin. "Tell me I don't have to wake up and lose this..."
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I blink... He's... Oh, Naruto. I chuckle softly, and for once there isn't anything cruel in the sound. "You are awake, dobe," I say with affection and wrap my arms around him, holding him - and I blush a little deeper at the thought - much like a koala. "I'm yours. I've been trying to get that point across to you for the last few months... but you've been a little resistant."
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I... what... but... no... I'm... awake?! How can I be awake?! There... there's no way! There's absolutely no way I can be awake!! None of this could have happened outside of a dream!! None of it!! There's no way- A loud knock on the door and then Kakashi-sensei's voice filtering through the wood... "You two better be awake! You have fifteen minutes to get ready for shift change!" The sound of him walking away... I lift my head and stare at the door. Oh gods... this isn't a dream... ohnoohnoohno... What have I done?! I... oh gods... I completely bared myself to him... Oh GODS...
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The change in him is almost immediate. "Naruto, shh," I say instantly and crush him against me, my arms getting tighter. I'm not letting go until he calms down. This isn't going to end like this. I've made too many bad decisions and terrible choices in my life and I'll be damned if I'm going to let this time be one of them. "It's ok. I meant everything I said and there's nothing to be afraid of. I do love you and I will never leave you... I'm going to stay by you until my very last breath. I meant it," I whisper fiercely in his ear. I've pushed all self-doubts, all the self-hate, all of the fears and vendettas aside in this moment. To love others, one has to start by loving one's self. "You're precious to me..."
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I just lay there and shake, but not in pleasure this time. I can�t believe I just did that! I... I completely bared my soul to him and... Oh, gods... What do I do now?! He says he�ll keep his promise and he says he�ll always love me... but things like that can change in an instant and he�s betrayed me before... I want so so so so much to believe him... I want to believe him so much it aches...
Oh, DAMMIT!! It�s waking up!! I... it can�t know what happened!! I�ll never hear the end of it and I... I can�t handle that right now... I feel all the blood drain from my face as the demon stirs and I jump up and out of Sasuke�s arms, dashing for the bathroom. �Shit!� I mutter. I need time to think about all this but I won�t have the chance to until- (Yeah, yeah, good morning to you, pain in the ass. You do realize it�s still dark outside. ... That�s none of your damn business. ... No, I am not! ... Shut up and go back to sleep!! I don�t want to deal with you right now!! ... I don�t care!!! Go back to sleep!!!)
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I lay there and stare at the ceiling for several long moments. My heart aches. I know he meant what he said while he thought it was all a dream� but is the reality of it that terrifying� that terrible that he has to run out on me like that? Am I really that appalling to be with? Even if he loves me� does he really find being with me that frightening?
Questions obviously unanswered, I stand and am dressed in moments. I cast one look over my shoulder at the bathroom door pausing with my hand on the room doorknob. Nothing stirs and I turn the handle leaving the room shut up behind me.
I enter Junichiro�s room alone and take up my position leaning against the wall on the couch. �Go ahead. He�ll be here in a few minutes,� I inform Kakashi and simply lean there, expressionless despite the slow and throbbing ache in my chest. I know they can�t tell I�m hurting. They never look closely enough to see into the chinks in my �armor,� so I know that I�m safe from their scrutiny and questions. Junichiro is still sound asleep in his bed as Kakashi and Sakura walk out, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
Fantasy is fine, but he can�t handle the reality of those dreams. I�d hate to see what would happen if he were declared Rokudaime Hokage today. Sighing a little, I fold my arms and watch the darkness around me with the Sharingan. I�m almost beginning to feel that this whole relationship thing with Naruto is becoming an impossibility. We�re just too� I�m too closed off and chilly and he�s too masked and sensitive. It�s almost like we weren�t made for each other and I�m trying to fit us together when we don�t belong that way�. I wouldn�t be surprised if I was a completely smoothed out puzzle piece never meant to fit with the puzzle, only to reside within it but never a part of it. A circular piece with the never-ending cycle of revenge as my only existence� I could get even more melancholy but he walks in so I cut my thoughts short and move to the other side of the room. He doesn�t want to deal with me, so he won�t have to.
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(-sleep... Please, fox, just leave me alone. ... I told you, that�s none of your business. ... Look, we have a huge fight tomorrow, so why don�t you go to sleep and save up your energy? ... You�ll just be bored right now since all I have to do is guard. ... Exactly. And absolutely not. ... Bastard. � Overgrown squirrel. ... Good idea, you do that.) ... Finally! Took the stupid demon long enough to listen to me and go back to sleep. Sighing quietly, I sit down on the loveseat and lean my head back, closing my eyes and opening the rest of my senses. I�m on alert, but I can think at the same time so I do so.
Sasuke�s avoiding me... not that I can blame him. There�s no way he can know that the reason I ran is cause the demon was waking up and I didn�t want to put up with it asking a million questions as to why we were on the bed like that, me on top of him with him wrapped around me. The fox would have immediately assumed, and for once it would have assumed right.
I think back to just after I woke up, when Sasuke first started kissing my neck. Even though it�s just a memory now I still shiver... Slowly, I make my way through everything that happened until I realized it wasn�t a dream, remembering every sensation and every feeling and every thought. Up until that point everything had felt so wonderfully... right. Perfect. So perfect it frightens me. And yet I want more of it...
For the rest of our shift I sit there, my mind dancing back and forth between shying away from the thought of being with Sasuke and wanting to reach out for him. He may be on the other side of the room but it feels like he�s right next to me, I�m so aware of his presence. By the time Kakashi-sensei comes to relieve us, I�m at a stalemate between the two. There is one thing I do know, though... I�m not going to be able to fall back asleep...
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*Three Nights Later*
----------------------
The room around me is dark and quiet. It�s been well over twenty-four hours and he hasn�t even twitched. I have to stay near him so that I can continually check his vital signs. He went all out on Gaara, won and then promptly passed out before he could even give us his usual gloating dance. I had to scramble to catch him before he ate sand and even then it had been a sliding save, much like Sakura had done for me once� the first time I ever faced Lee. Shaking the reminiscent thoughts from my head, I look back down at Naruto, so peacefully unconscious beside me on the bed and sigh.
The fight had definitely gone in our favor from the start. Naruto had held very little back, at least he�d held nothing back that couldn�t be seen, sealing the fate of the Wind Country neatly by defeating Gaara after a relatively quick battle. It had obviously not been an easy fight or he wouldn�t have been passed out for the last day plus. I�ve been with Naruto from the moment I caught him crumpling to the ground and carried him here to now. Kakashi and Sakura have been watching Junichiro and handling the business of the document signings. Thank god for that. I didn�t want to deal with that at all and wouldn�t have been very comfortable leaving Naruto to recuperate by himself.
I�ve been playing nursemaid this entire time, dipping the washcloth that�s resting on his forehead right now in the water basin on the nightstand � cool by day and warm by night - beside the bed and wiping his face, neck and chest down with it. It wouldn�t be any good for him to overheat or catch a chill suddenly in this strange weather. It went from hot to hell in the course of about three hours after the fight ended. And right now it�s freaking cold.
I focus again and take said washcloth from Naruto�s forehead, twisting so I can dip it in the water and wring it out. Turning, I pause. He�s finally awake� and I�m probably too close despite the fact that he�s in the middle of the bed and I�m barely sitting on the edge of the mattress so I can reach both him and the water basin easily. I stand and lean over him, wiping his face gently with the cloth while bracing myself on one hand on the mattress.
�Do you know where you are?� I ask him calmly.
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I nod and close my eyes again so that he can wipe my whole face with that blissfully warm cloth. When did it get so freakishly cold?! It wasn't this bad at night before... "How long have I been out? What's going on?" I ask quietly, my voice rough from a long sleep and I cough to clear it. I'm sore all over and still a little tired from the fight, but I can feel myself recovering quickly. The fox is dead asleep, also recovering from the fight. It'll take longer for it to wake up since I draw on its power to heal myself, meaning it has to recover more chakra than just what was lost in the battle.
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�What�s your name?� I ask him without answering his questions. Protocol decrees that I make sure he is fully conscious and stable before I divulge any information to him. I need to make sure he is himself.
-----------****-----------
I roll my eyes in annoyance but play along, understanding the need for the question. "Uzumaki Naruto. Age eighteen, will be nineteen in three months. Blood type B. Ninja of Konohagakure. Student of Hatake Kakashi, teammate to Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. Did I get them all?" I ask, answering what I think are all of the questions before he asks them. I think I got all of them.
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"Ha~," I affirm and then tell him, "You've been out for a total of nearly 36 hours, the papers are being re-forged and signed as we speak, and you have been ordered by Kakashi to stay in bed until we actually leave. Do you need to use the bathroom? And would you like something to eat and drink?"
I'll remain business-like, keep my distance until he decides one way or the other. I've done everything I can except force my feelings on him... and I even did a little of that. It's up to him now. Straightening from wiping his neck and chest, I drop the cloth in the water basin and wait for his answers.
-----------****-----------
"Yes and hell yes." I sit up slowly, every single muscle protesting but fortunately not loudly, and scoot towards the edge of the bed. "I won, right?" I'm not quite sure. The last thing I remember is getting though Gaara's defenses by throwing the fox's chakra at him and hitting him. By then I was getting so drained from using up my chakra so fast that I'm surprised I hadn't blacked out sooner.
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"I said they were signing the papers didn't I?" I ask him as I stoop a little and lift one of his arms slowly until it rests over my shoulders. I support him to the bathroom and the words, "You can take a bath if you'd like. Do you want me to draw it up for you?" pass my lips as we enter what's basically become his sanctuary... from me.
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"Please. I feel so gross right now, you have no idea." I wait until he's removed his support and turned away before dropping my boxers and sitting on the toilet. By the time he's got the tub starting to fill I'm done and washing my hands, leaning against the counter for support. My legs are not happy with me right now. Shakily, I make my way to the tub and sit down on the edge. "I can do it. You go ahead and take a nap or something."
-----------****-----------
I glance at him and then straighten. "Don't fall in and hurt yourself, dobe," I mutter softly as I brush past and head for the door. By the time he's done in the bathroom I'll have food and drink waiting for him at the table.
I'm keeping my distance entirely. I'm determined that, if he really wants me... wants my attention, he'll seek it. If he doesn't seek it, he doesn't want it, and then we're back to square one. Sighing, I call for a servant and order some food, water, and tea and honey to be brought in.
-----------****-----------
He's being a cold bastard again... but I've earned it... I didn't say a word to him the day before the fight, busy thinking about how I'm going to deal with our relationship and fending off the fox's questions. I have no idea what he's thinking, but I know I probably wouldn't like it. Sighing, I slide into the tub when it's filled and sink gratefully into the warm water. It�s the best thing for my sore muscles. But even so, one more night of rest, and I should be completely recovered.
Now that the fox is dead asleep, I have the opportunity to keep thinking about my situation with Sasuke and I take it. Do I want to try and be friends again? Do I want more than that? Do I want to risk having something more precious than friendship taken away? More questions dance around my head. Slowly, methodically I think out the answer to each question, hoping to finally find a conclusion I can work with.
By the time I finally reach that conclusion the water is cold and I am a human prune. Slowly I climb out of the tub and dry myself off, pulling out a fresh pair of boxers from my bag in the corner of the room I put them on. It won�t be too bad once I�m under the covers. There was a fire place that was lit in the room anyway so it shouldn�t be bad at all. Stiffly, I make my way back to the bedroom, looking forward to lying back down on the soft bed and getting something into my stomach.
Conclusion? Not being alone anymore is worth the risk.
-----------****-----------
I look up as he re-enters the room and silently move over to play crutch again. Soon enough, I have him settled at the table in a pillowed chair with a moderate plate of food in front of him. To his left sits a cup of tea with honey mixed in for energy and to his left sits a medium glass of water since he's had little to nothing to drink since he passed out. I ate while he was still in the bathroom, so I go to the bed and change the sheets, tucking everything in neatly. While I wait for him to finish eating, I refill the water basin and get a new wash cloth. I might still need it. He's still recovering after all.
-----------****-----------
Wow, he's giving me the full-blown cold shoulder... It's kinda hard to believe just a few days ago he was completely open with me... Just how deeply did I hurt him? More importantly, can I fix it? I sigh quietly and pick up the glass of water, my throat exceedingly happy for the moisture. Might as well start somewhere... "Thank you," I murmur as I dig into my meal. Oh, food! It's not ramen, but foooooood!
-----------****-----------
"You�re welcome," I murmur softly and pour myself some tea, forgoing sugar and honey, and then I settle in the chair across from him instead of the one next to him. "Kakashi said we leave tomorrow, and that he wants you to stay in bed until then," I repeat. Naruto can be forgetful or thickheaded sometimes, so I know it's best to remind him rather than to let him forget.
-----------****-----------
At least he's talking to me. Kinda. I nod in understanding of Kakashi-sensei's orders and down the rest of the food. "Do you know what happened to Gaara?" I ask quietly as I take a sip of my tea. I'm interested because I see Gaara... not as a friend... a comrade I guess would be the best way to put it. He's like me in that his childhood was hell for similar reasons and even though our demons absolutely hate each other, I think that - given the chance - we could become friends. When this damned war is over, of course, though Gaara and his sibs do help us freely from time to time and usually don't fight for their village when the battle is against Konoha. Usually.
-----------****-----------
"He's fine. You broke his jaw, but that isn't anything Shukaku won't fix," I answer. "He's never dealt with that sort of pain before so you took him out with that last blow." I know what it's like to see that Chakra come flying at you with the intent to do damage. It doesn't surprise me that Gaara lost.
-----------****-----------
I wince at that. Fortunately I've never had the misfortune of getting a broken jaw. He's going to pay me back for that next time we're at odds, I bet. "Where are Kakashi-sensei and Sakura? With the bastard?"
-----------****-----------
"They can't exactly leave him unguarded considering the mission objectives... and since I'm with you..." Don't make me spell it out for you, Naruto. You should know the answer to questions like that.
-----------****-----------
"So sue me. I was hoping they were leaving him unguarded and somebody would come by to kill him," I grumble, gulping down some more of my tea. Staring down into my cup I ask softly, "Ano... Were you with me this whole time?" Did they take turns watching over me or was Sasuke the only one? Or did I just happen to wake up at a time when he'd come in to check on me?
-----------****-----------
I'm quiet for a long moment and then I stand. "You can take that with you and set it by the water basin. Let's get you back to bed now," I state and then add, "I was here the whole time. We've pissed the Wind Lord off, meaning we need to watch over each other carefully. He thought Gaara would win for certain."
-----------****-----------
"Guess he didn't know I've beaten him before," I say with a smirk. After drinking down the rest of my tea, I stand up and make it over to the bed with Sasuke's help. I crawl under the covers and curl up beneath them, but before Sasuke can get out of reach, I grab his shorts and look right at him, hoping he'll meet my gaze. "Thank you... for staying with me."
-----------****-----------
I look down at him and the reach down to run my fingers through his drying spikes from his forehead back. "I wasn't going to leave you unguarded, Naruto," I assure him softly. The hand that had run through his hair comes up to caress his cheek gently. "Get some more rest and you'll feel a lot better in the morning." It's actually about two in the morning right now and I'm beat. I'm also not looking forward to sleeping on the couch again. While Naruto was out, I slept beside him, but now that he's awake I should sleep on the couch. As it is, I want out of these shorts and a bath myself. Clean boxer shorts, and some shut eye now that I know Naruto isn't going to stay asleep for the rest of eternity. The little cat naps I got were NOT enough!
-----------****-----------
Nodding, I scoot farther back under the covers towards the other side of the bed, not letting go of his shorts and looking up at him hopefully. I want him to sleep here with me, like we've been doing. I don't want him to go away.
-----------****-----------
I reach down and gently pry his fingers from my shorts. "I'll be back," I mutter and head for the bathroom grabbing clean boxers out of my bag on my way to the bathroom. I'm not sleeping until I'm clean.
-----------****-----------
"Okay..." I lay there quietly, waiting for him to come back, trusting him to come back and join me. ...It's cold and lonely without him in this big bed. I've gotten so used to him next to me. There is no way I'm gonna me able to fall asleep until he's here with me under the covers.
It's a long time before he comes back out, his hair damp from his bath, and I watch him as he moves around the room, hoping that he'll come sleep with me.
-----------****-----------
I finish running my quick perimeter check and settling anything and everything necessary for the night, and then I head over to Naruto to check on him. Hopefully, I haven't read him wrong, but I'm looking forward to sleeping under warm covers.
"How are you?" I ask as I sit on the edge of the bed and check his forehead for fever. I have to keep a close eye on him for a little while longer, just to be safe.
-----------****-----------
"I'm fine," I say as I swat his hand away from my forehead. He should know by now that I never get sick or have fevers. "Will you just get in here already? You look beat. Just how much sleep did you get while I was out?"
-----------****-----------
"I dozed," I murmur and gratefully settle under the covers with him. "I had to watch you closely for a little while and then after that I watched you closely because I wanted to make sure you were ok and safe." I settle on my side, facing him, and reach out cradle one cheek in my palm. I don't say anything about the relationship... mostly because I'm not sure I want to have him stressing while he's still recovering from the battle.
-----------****-----------
I smile and scoot closer to him, hugging him close around his shoulders and tucking his head under my chin. "Go to sleep. It's my turn to watch over you," I murmur. It feels so wonderful to have him in my arms... What was I thinking when I almost gave this up?
-----------****-----------
"You don't need to watch me, dobe," I mutter, but my voice is affectionate as I settle my arms around him tightly. "You need to sleep, too." It�s not a request, it's a demand, and I hate to boss him because I know how he can be but I've got my orders and I have to pass them on to him.
I'm a little surprised that he actually - so boldly - curled up with me like this. It's so wonderful to feel his body beside and against mine again. I kiss his throat and sigh. "Oyasumi, Naruto-koi." Hopefully that doesn't set him off.
-----------****-----------
"But I'm not tired," I protest, burying my nose in his hair and holding him tighter. I didn't even know I was holding my breath until it sighs out of my mouth in relief at the affection in his voice. Thank the gods, I still have a chance to fix things.
-----------****-----------
I kiss the hollow of his throat this time and sigh against the skin. "Then just relax, but don't do anything you aren't supposed to," I say firmly and then tighten my own hold on him. This is so promising! Do I even dare to actually hope that he's decided in my favor?
-----------****-----------
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Stay in bed, Kakashi-sensei's orders," I grumble lightly, smirking. "Relax, I'm not going anywhere." I kiss his temple and give his shoulder a squeeze.
-----------****-----------
I yawn then and curl up against him more comfortably. "I'm surprised... but your flippant attitude actually puts me at ease... Oyasumi," I murmur and snuggle, closing my eyes. Naruto's himself entirely right now, and he's like this... what more could I ask for other than a couple of winks and a dead brother? Disjointed thoughts are starting... I need to sleep. I didn't sleep well the night before the fight either because I slept on the couch... so I'm running on fewer fumes than Naruto knows about. I'm almost dead asleep before I've taken three deep breaths, inhaling his strong and cherishable scent.
-----------****-----------
He's almost asleep... holding him tighter I whisper right into his ear, "I'm sorry... about the other day. I... I panicked. It was too much at once and I needed to think. Forgive me?"
-----------****-----------
My eyes open suddenly, but I only see tanned skin in the dark of the room and the shadow of the covers cast by the flickering, warm light of the fire I start in the hearth before Naruto even woke up. "You needed time and some space. I understand that. It just ... stung a bit... I love you, koishii..."
I almost can't believe he apologized, but instead of making a big deal about it I accept it as graciously as I can. I want to work this thing out. I want to be with him for the rest of my life. I want to go to sleep and wake up just like this.
-----------****-----------
Smiling, I nuzzle his temple before kissing it. "I love you too, Sasuke. Now go to sleep," I whisper, rubbing his back with one hand soothingly. Relief and happiness have sent my heart soaring. I hadn't dared hope that he'd forgive me so readily, but I'm glad that he did.
-----------****-----------
I comply without much effort. I'm exhausted after worrying over him for so long without any real, decent sleep. His hand on my back and steady heartbeat in my ear lull me into comfortable relaxed sleep.
-----------****-----------
*The Next Night*
----------------------
Wow, I am so wired... After sleeping for a day and half and then riding on a frog all day, meaning I got more naps in since there was no way I was able to stay awake in the hot desert day, I am so hyper it isn't funny. Though I guess part of it is that every moment I was awake was spent bantering with Sasuke. Granted a lot of it was insulting banter, but neither of us meant the insults and were mostly just having fun chewing each other out. Oh yeah, and the demon's still dead in a recuperating asleep. Meaning I haven't had to put up with its annoying chatter for over a day. Yep, I am sooooooo wired...
We just stopped to set up camp a couple hours ago and dinner was easy. We didn't have to hunt tonight because the Wind Lord sent us away with plenty of rations. If we're careful, we probably won't have to hunt at all on the way home. The place where we've stopped to camp is by a deep canyon, kinda like the one ero-sennin threw me down a few years back. It goes on for as far as I can see and the river at the bottom is just a ribbon, shining in the moonlight.
Plop. Hehehe. Bounce, bounce, bounce, plop. This is fun! Even though the river is so far away, I can still hear it when the rocks I'm dropping fall into it. Hmm, I wonder how many times I can make this rock bounce off the wall before it lands in the water...
-------------****--------------
"What are you doing, baka?" I ask as I come and sit on the ground beside him. He's standing there throwing rocks off a cliff and I just went and set up our tent all by myself. "The tent's made up... you owe me." I'm quiet about it because it doesn't really matter. I'm just glad to see him so ... perky after all the shit we've been through to get him this way. This is so much better than a suicidal, melancholy, sulky Naruto.
I look down into the ravine and sigh. We took a different route home this time. It�s faster, but it�s also pretty messy. We did it mainly to throw off any pursuit, not that there should be any, but like I told Naruto before, the Wind Lord is pissed because he thought Gaara would win for sure. I sigh, nobles are so temperamental. I mean just look at Junichiro. He hasn�t said a word to me since I took care of Naruto after the fight. Not that I mind. Hell, I�m practically jumping for joy that he�s actually begun to treat me like a ninja and not a sex idol. I glance at Naruto again and then reach out and touch his wrist, asking him silently to sit with me.
-------------****--------------
"I made dinner so I don't owe you a thing," I retort cheerfully with a razz, dropping one last rock before sitting down next to him and leaning back on my hands. A breeze works it way out of the ravine, carrying with it the smell of warm, fresh water. It's comforting in the cold desert night air, making me long for the warm-cool forests of Konoha. "I can't wait until we get back to trees..." I murmur, looking up at the sky. "M'gonna miss the stars though..."
-------------****--------------
I chuckle a little and lay back on the ground, folding my arms behind my head to keep my hair mostly out of the dirt. "I'll have to take you star gazing in the old Uchiha village... there's nothing to obstruct the view. No lights, or tall buildings, or anything," I murmur watching the stars with him quietly. A moment of serenity. We don't often share those.
-------------****--------------
"I'll hold you to that," I say with a smirk, looking back over my shoulder at him. This is so nice... My mind is quiet for the first time in a very long time and having Sasuke next to me, being open and friendly, is wonderful... I don't want this to end, but it will the moment the fox wakes up. I want to keep this relationship as much of a secret as I can from it... because I know it'll take advantage of it. Not quite sure how, I just know it will. ...So I'm going to make the most of this moment, and every one I get when the fox is sleeping.
-------------****--------------
"I promise I'll take you star gazing," I say drolly. (Pest,) I think with affection and reach up to jerk his right arm - the one closest to me - out from under him so that he falls, allowing me to pull him close with my arm wrapped around his shoulders. I figure we can lay here for a little while and then we have to go and take our shift for watch. After that, it's straight to bed. "We'll be eating a light breakfast tomorrow according to Kakashi," I state, "so you want to have a quiet stomach. I bought some ration bars before we left the Wind Country. Fruits and cream... and chocolate. Useless, but I know you... and I knew we'd be hustling home since this took longer than it was supposed to."
-------------****--------------
"Y'know, you could have asked me to lay down, jackass," I say with a smirk, shifting so that I'm not all twisted. Not that I minded him pulling me down, but it's fun to give him a hard time. One of my legs settles between his and I rest my head just under his chin with a happy sigh. Hm, he not only makes a good blanket but a good pillow too.
-------------****--------------
"It's more fun this way," I mutter and wrap my other arm around him too. His weight half lying on me like this is so comfortable. I don't think I've ever been this comfortable. The rough ground beneath me is nothing when examined alongside this. I crane my neck so that I can kiss the top of his head once before settling my chin right there.
-------------****--------------
"Did you just say fun? Hell just froze over... the word 'fun' came out of Uchiha Sasuke's mouth," I tease, wrapping an arm around his waist and burying my nose in his neck. He smells so good...
-------------****--------------
I chuckle again, very softly. It�s absolutely wonderful to lay here with him like this. The quiet and solitude and the scent and warmth of him, the solidity of him in my arms, it just all adds up to wonderful. I never thought I�d feel this way about anything or anyone ever again. I loved my parents, for all that they drove me to be like my brother. I was so proud the day my dad called me his son� and when it was all wrenched away I never thought I could get any of it back. But now I�ve got this and it�s mine. Nothing will ever take Naruto from me. NOTHING. My arms tighten possessively as my thoughts grow almost territorial.
---------------------------
This was embarrassing. The last thing she wanted to do was to walk up to her two cuddling teammates and tell them that they had to go paws off and baby-sit the lordling bastard. Sighing, she approached them on cautious silent feet and then cleared her throat softly before saying, �Ano, Naruto� Sasuke-kun� Kakashi-sensei says it�s your shift��
---------------------------
I look up by tilting my head as far back as I can, giving me an upside down view of a bashful Sakura. She�s blushing and averting her eyes with her hands folded behind her back. I don�t feel at all sorry for her. She brought that pain upon herself, never taking the hint in the earlier stages of her crush that I wasn�t interested. �We�ll be there in a second,� I state emotionlessly. It�s odd how I can be so emotionless to her and at the same time hold Naruto like this� so � intimately. I actually feel a little, tiny bit of guilt over how much it must be killing her inside to see this. But then I remember how unnecessarily nasty she was to Naruto all the time and for his sake, she deserves it. Sakura flees and I look down to Naruto again waiting to see what he has to say about what just happened.
-------------****--------------
"Blah... That means I have to move... And I'm comfortable too..." I mutter, snuggling deeper into Sasuke for just a moment before getting up on my hands and knees. Pushing the ground with my hands I rock back onto my heels and stand up, offering him a hand. "The bastard better be asleep." I hadn't even looked up at Sakura. I don't care anymore what she thinks of me, nor do I want her attention. She's burned me way too many times... plus I have someone now that actually cares about me.
-------------****--------------
I take his hand and let him help me to my feet, but before he can pull away, I pull him close and cup his jaw with my free hand. My thumb caresses his lower lip. I figure I�ll ask first this time, before I just dive right in.
-------------****--------------
I smile, knowing what he wants, and lean forward to brush my lips against his. My free hand comes up to cradle his jaw as I kiss him softly... only to pinch his nose as I pull away. "C'mon, we have work to do," I say with a smirk, letting him go and heading for camp.
-------------****--------------
I follow quietly, satisfied for now. That'll have to do until later.
We reach camp and Kakashi disappears into his tent to sleep. Sakura is no where to be seen and it's obvious that Junichiro is already in his tent. I settle by the campfire and stoke it so that it burns lower, then look to Naruto. It's really getting cold. "Why don't you go get us each a blanket?" I ask him softly. I know that we can�t have the fire any higher than this and I also know that cold and I don�t really get along. Not with the way the Curse Seal has been making me sluggish and everything. It�s chilling my blood slowly. I can almost feel it� even now. Like a slow poison�
I jump. That came out of no where! Shaking my head a little I poke at the low embers. What the hell caused that careening plunge into despair, or depression, or whatever the hell that was?
-------------****--------------
Nodding, I go into our tent and fetch the thickest blankets. I come back just in time to see him jump. "You okay?" I ask quietly as I put one of the blankets over his shoulders. I'm already wearing mine and I sit down next to him on his left side, our shoulders touching. This way I can watch that damned Seal... I dunno why, but I have a feeling that's what made him jump. I can almost feel the chakra in it trying to pulse and spread over him and it's making me nervous.
-------------****--------------
�Yeah� I�m fine,� I murmur and lean against him a little, pulling the blanket closely around me. �Thanks.�
I know he knows. It doesn�t have to be said. I stare into the fire, the bright orange of the embers reflected easily in my dark irises. If he asks I�ll tell, but I�m not going to complain. Complaining doesn�t get me anywhere.
-------------****--------------
"It's not bothering you right now, is it?" I murmur as I lean back against him. "You were fine just a little bit ago..."
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Sighing, I tell him what I'm thinking. "He's somewhere nearby. Probably not close... but close enough."
-------------****--------------
"Damn!" I mutter hotly, scowling a bit. Just what we need... a snake. "Can he tell where you are? Did you sense him during the fight?"
-------------****--------------
"I don't think so... and no, I never sensed him during the fight. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm just sensing him from Sunagakure," I sooth Naruto and wrap my arms, and effectively some of my blanket, around him. "It's fine. He's not getting any closer."
-------------****--------------
That's good news at least. Relaxing I lean harder on him, resting my head on his shoulder. "Good..."
-------------****--------------
I murr a little in agreement and nuzzle the top of his head. I'm not going to be able to activate the Sharingan for right now, something he knows me well enough to know. And I know him well enough to know that he's going to compensate for my inability of the moment. It's going to be a long few hours but with Naruto to keep me occupied I should be ok... not bored at least.
-------------****--------------
Our watch is completely uneventful, but at least it's cozy and warm. There's not even a blip in my radar, and I have the farthest range in my team for sensing presences, especially when I'm actually looking for them. Sasuke and I spend our watch talking quietly or just cuddling. I know one thing - this is soooooooo much better than the days we spent doing nothing but fighting and bickering.
The fire is nothing but coals by the time Kakashi-sensei wakes up and comes out of his tent, telling us to get some sleep. Nodding I crawl into our tent, stripping down to my boxers while still cocooned in my blanket before burrowing into my bedroll, waiting for Sasuke to join me.
-------------****--------------
I slip into the bedroll with him as soon as I'm in my boxers only and then snuggle right up to him slightly chilled since - unlike Naruto - I had tossed my blanket over the bedroll itself. Cuddling up to him, I tuck my nose under his ear and kiss that spot on his jaw that I had accidentally discovered not too long ago. Let's see what he thinks of that.
-------------****--------------
I shiver and hug him close, murring deep in my chest as I turn my head to give him more room. That felt so good... �We�re supposed to go to sleep, ahou,� I murmur, but I�m smirking encouragingly and looking at him out of the corner of my hooded eye. He is more than welcome to keep doing that for as long as he wants.
-------------****--------------
I know there�s a little grin on my lips � which feels odd but comfortable at the same time � as I scoff softly and nip the spot gently. He doesn�t want me to stop any more than I want to. I suck gently at his earlobe for a moment and then let my mouth wander over his neck, lingering over his pulse and nibbling at his collarbones. �I�m not tired�� For some reason, I�m more interested in the taste of him and then of course there are the soft pleased noises he makes that drive me a little wild. Or at least boils my blood a little.
-------------****--------------
�I can see that... but we have to get up early...� I argue for the sake of arguing, tilting my head back with a quiet moan. My hands run up and down his back, kneading his flesh and pulling him closer. The feeling of his lips and teeth on my skin is... I can�t describe it. �Amazing� doesn�t even cut it. I feel like I�m floating with sensation. Every time his lips or teeth graze my skin I shiver and moan... So good...
-------------****--------------
He�s so incredibly responsive� where before he used to resist, now he just sort of submits but in a manner that definitely tells me he likes what I�m doing. I stay a-tuned to that. I don�t want to do anything he doesn�t like, but at the same time I feel the urge to test the waters. Slowly I let one of my hands creep up from Naruto�s stomach, up to caress one nipple with the calloused pad of my thumb. I�ll go slowly, but if I can� I want to get everything he�ll let me have.
�Koishii,� I murmur and pull his bottom lip in between my teeth rolling it gently and sucking a little before my tongue delves in. Some part of me seems to know what it�s doing, even if I�m not sure, I know Naruto doesn�t know anything about sex or anything else in that respect for that matter, so we�re learning together� I hope.
-------------****--------------
�Sasuke...� I moan against his mouth as I return the kiss, rolling us so that I�m lying on top of him and shivering at the feel of his hand on my chest. My fingers tangle in his hair, holding his head in place as I explore his mouth, relearning every detail. He tastes so wonderful... While he smells like vanilla and steal, his taste is more vanilla and... I can�t put a name on the other flavors, but it doesn�t matter. It�s Sasuke... that�s the most important thing.
And now that I know this isn�t a dream... that makes it all the better... To think that he�s sworn that I�m going to have this for the rest of my life...
-------------****--------------
I moan, shifting restlessly. His weight on top of my body makes me squirm and shudder a little. I reach up and play with both nipples now, gently rubbing my thumbs over them and rolling them in slow circles. My tongue caresses his tangling and tangoing together between our mouths, dancing back and forth. The warmth of his body blanketing mine is heavenly and arousing me even further and I let my hands wander down from his chest along his sides until I can cradle his waist. Squeezing gently with both hands, I pull him more tightly against me. This is promising� he�s taking the initiative for a change.
-------------****--------------
Slowly, I kiss his entire face, caressing it with my lips and exploring every inch. I feel the heat radiating off him and it makes me shiver, my own body becoming hot as he squirms. �Sasuke...� I whisper against his face, my breath getting huskier by the moment as pleasure stirs in me, gradually spreading from every place where our skin comes in contact. I love him so much...
-------------****--------------
�Naruto,� I croon back, my deep voice feeling like velvet in my throat. I let my hands slide up over his sides to his lower back and down until I carefully cup one butt cheek in each hand, simply holding him. I don�t ever want this to end. Everything�s so perfect now� certainly there�s still the matter of my brother� and Orochimaru, but those things seem so far away. So� distant that I think for right now� I�m just going to forget about them and focus on him entirely. He�s all that matters right now anyway.
-------------****--------------
I shudder at the feel of his hands on my rear, brushing my lips against his eyelids before leaning up to gaze at him, my eyes hooded as I drink in the sight of his face, seeming to glow with its own light in the shadows of our dark tent. I weave my fingers into his bangs, holding his hair out of his face so that I can see it all. I feel like I�m in heaven... I can�t wait until this mission is over so that we can hopefully get a break... one I plan to spend entirely with Sasuke. He has to take me stargazing, after all.
-------------****--------------
I smirk suddenly, smugly, and I know what he�s thinking. Probably something along the lines of �What the hell is he planning? I don�t like that look.� He�s never liked it when I look like that, and he�s always made sure to comment on it. Still, I do it anyway and then lean up to brush my lips along his before he suddenly finds himself on his back with me straddling his knees. I grin.
�Scared?� I purr, just to tease him as I lean down and dip my tongue into his navel. I don�t know where all of this is coming from. I�ve never done this sort of thing before. But it feels right, and I�ve never been shy. The body is just a bundle of nerves waiting for stimulation and what better stimulation than kisses and licks on one�s stomach? He seems to be enjoying it anyway.
-------------****--------------
�Of you? Keep dreaming,� I retort softly, teasingly, after biting my lip to muffle a loud groan at the feel of his tongue that low on my stomach. We may have privacy in here but a tent is hardly soundproof. I don�t want Kakashi-sensei and Sakura hearing us. We�d never hear the end of it.
Oh, but that felt good... It made me tremble and stoked the fire that�s growing within me. I can feel my body flush and I squirm, getting restless.
-------------****--------------
�Like that?� I ask softly. There are so many better things that I can show him� not that I�m an authority, but at least I�ve got really good instincts. I�m just going with the flow really and doing things as they come to me, which seems to be working so far. This is all new territory for both of us I think� and if he�ll let me� I�m going to try something.
I smooth my hands up over his hips, up his body, and then drag them back down to hook my fingers in the waistband of his boxers, tugging gently in askance. I want to pull them down just a little bit. Just enough down his thighs that I can get to him.
-------------****--------------
Does he... want what I think he wants...?! Unbidden my mind presents me with so many images of what he could do if I were completely naked and I have to bite my lip again to muffle another groan. My hips lift themselves of their own accord, asking him to pull my boxers down. I'm getting to the point where I want release... I need release... Gods, he's so beautiful...
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That was most certainly an encouraging response and I tug his boxers down to mid-thigh, freeing his full erection to stand tall against his belly. It might be a little uncomfortable for him since he won't be able to spread his legs at all with his boxers where I left them, but that's also part of the thrill. He'll be at my mercy... No teeth, I tell myself as I reach down and cup the top of Naruto's heavy erection with one hand. He's well-built everywhere else so why not here too? Holding his erection like this, with my hand between his belly and his member, gives me full access to that large vein that runs from root to head. I know from personal experience how I feel about that and a few other places, so I figure it's worth a shot with him.
Lowering my head, I lick from where Naruto's arousal is rooted to his sacs up along that large vein, to the purpling head - trekking sideways to miss my ultimate goal - where I swirl my tongue around to the edge until I've completed one circuit and returned to the frenulum, a tiny ridge of flesh under the head of his arousal that is absolutely packed with nerve-endings. Let's see if it's too much, too little, or just the right amount of stimulation. For me, it's perfect and one of the best places to touch.
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Oh GODS... oh gods oh gods oh GODS... This time I bite my lip so hard I draw blood, but even then my moan seems so loud to my ears. I barely register it when my lip heals immediately, leaving only a small stain of blood in the corner of my mouth as evidence of what I did. That... oh... I... wow... Suddenly I can't seem to keep my lungs filled for any amount of time and I pant, my body shaking from the overload of pleasurable sensation. My trembling hands land on his shoulders and squeeze, asking for him to do that again. I could die from such pleasure, it's so amazingly intense.
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I growl a little. I can't help it. I like that response out of him. I mean, I like it when that spot's played with but... he just blew me out of the water for how much I like it. Smirking a little, I let my tongue wander over his head again, licking up the tiny drop of precum from his straining tip. It's bitter and salty, but not unbearable. I then lower my tongue again and lap at the frenulum, my eyes never leaving his face as it contorts with pleasure and his muscles bulge a little as he strains. I feel my own member twitch inside my boxers, but choose to ignore it for now. It hasn't occurred to me yet that the blankets have slid off of my shoulders. I'm too busy holding his hips down with my free hand and teasing his erection with my lips and tongue.
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My grip on his shoulders tightens as I shudder continuously, wave after wave of delicious pleasure washing over me. My hips try to lift, but are stopped easily by his hands. When did I get so weak? .......ooooooooooooooohhhh....... Ooooooooohhh, right... there... Gods... "Sasuke..." I moan as I shift restlessly, silently begging for more of this attention. Is this what people call heaven?
.........................No.
Oh no... It's stirring... I forcefully take some of my attention off of what Sasuke is doing to what is going on in the back of my mind. ...The fox is stirring, its sleep disturbed by just how busy my mind has gotten... I don't want it to know... not yet... Reluctantly I tangle one set of fingers in his hair and tug. "Sasuke... Sasuke, stop... please... Stop..." I gasp.
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Concerned, I immediately lift my head and freeze. "What?" I ask gently, my voice very soft. He was enjoying it... so is he afraid, or is it something else?
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I sense the demon roll over, curl up, and go back to sleep and allow myself a quiet sigh of relief. I probably have until tomorrow morning... Tomorrow it'll be awake and pestering me to know what happened while it was asleep. "It... It was waking up... I don't want it to know..." I explain shakily, my entire body begging for me to let him keep going.
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I crawl up his body and lay beside him before I catch his chin and make him look at me. "You know it will find out eventually..." I state. "It's impossible to keep this from it forever..."
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"I know, I just... I want to keep this from it for as long as I can..." I say softly, rolling onto my side and reaching out to cup his jaw in my palm. "Once it finds out... there will be problems. It's always saying and suggesting perverted things, sometimes demanding that I do them... Once it finds out about us, it will make demands like that more often. And... I don't know what it can do..."
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I shush him softly. I can understand that fear easily enough. I deal with it - or at least something similar - every day. "It's fine," I murmur and kiss his forehead. "Let's rest then... and when we get back from the mission, we'll talk about this more, ne?"
He and I can make stargazing a hobby where we get some alone time away from everyone else. And while we're stargazing he and I can get to know each other even better... which includes me getting to know Kyuubi too...
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Glad he understands, I nod and pull him closer. I'm very loudly reminded of my erection when it brushes against his boxers... and through it against his own hot erection... Biting back a moan I pull my boxers back up and do my best to will my erection away. But I want release so badly... and the sudden image in my head of Sasuke cumming certainly isn't much help... I shift away just enough that we aren't touching there and see if I have any better luck. "Oyasumi, Sasuke," I murmur.
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"Oyasumi, Naruto-koi," I murmur softly and settle in for some sleep. I'm ignoring my erection, assuming one of these days it will actually be relieved... by Naruto. I hold him tightly but don't force him any closer than he is. I can totally understand his problem, but it seems a little less pressing as my eyes drift shut and in no time he and I are out cold.
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*The Next Morning*
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The following morning is chilled and foggy. We are definitely pressing for home when I realize I was hauled out of bed for breakfast hours before the sun rises and well before I�ve gotten enough sleep. I was enjoying my sleep too. Not something I can say regularly.
Sakura is busy cleaning up after us while Naruto and I are taking down the tents as fast as we can. Kakashi sensei is sitting there reading his damn books. Junichiro is obliviously staggering to his carriage while his servants demolish his personal quarters and pack it up. The horses are quietly dozing despite being hitched up, but then they�re flight animals so it�s easy for them to get up and go whenever they need to. Naruto and I are fight animals and we aren�t enjoying this harried movement at all.
I glance at him, just in time to see him stiffen and open his mouth, causing me to narrow my eyes, when there�s a kunai suddenly buried into my right shoulder with a force that sends me sliding backwards a little bit. The only thing I�m thankful for is that it didn�t take me right to the ground. This is just great. I hear Sakura�s scream of surprise and Kakashi is on his feet with the book tucked out of sight in an instant. They both leap to defend the carriage and its contents immediately. This� isn�t going to be pretty.
As I yank the kunai out of my chest, thankful that it doesn�t appear to have hit anything vital, I feel the Curse Seal start to burn. Not the burn that means I�m pissed, but the burn that says he�s somewhere nearby. I was so wrong last night. I won�t be surprised if this is his fault. �Damn him!!� I half scream and half growl, and the real fighting begins as I lunge for the enemy nearest to me.
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"Sasuke!" He's hit! Where did all these enemies come from?! I didn't even sense them until they were right on top of us! And there are so many of them!! ...Wait, Sasuke said 'Damn him'... and I can sense the Curse Seal pulsing... Orochimaru?! "Dammit!" This is not good! Roaring, I drop the tent I'm holding and throw myself at the nearest enemy-nin to gut him with a kunai. (FOX!! UP!! FIGHT!! UP NOW!!) The demon wakes up immediately and promptly takes up the task of healing any wounds I get and feeding me power. (No you can't fight!! ... Just do your job and heal me!! ... You had your fight with Gaara! Now shut up and HELP ME!!)
Someone manages to get past my defenses and rams a kunai right into my lung. I snarl and slit his throat, feeling the chakra collect in my chest instantly to heal the puncture. That spot's gonna be sore for a while... dammit! Assuming I'm fatally wounded a few other enemy-nin attack to 'finish me off'. Yeah. Right. Instead I finish them with a burst of the demon's chakra, effectively crisping them. (Look's like you're good for something, parasite. ... Maybe, if you shut up and behave!)
Throughout all of this I watch my teammates out of the corner of my eye. Kakashi-sensei and Sakura are doing just fine, especially since sensei's using the Sharingan and taking enemies out with some of the weird Jutsu he's collected.
Sasuke though... Oh, shit!! He's surrounded, and he can't use the Sharingan right now! Not with the snake bastard somewhere close by!! Damn, damn, damn, DAMN!! Roaring a battle-cry, I slash my way past more enemies to get to him. He needs help!
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I�m being forced back and away from the team. It�s taking everything I�ve got to keep up with these ninja. I know their skills a little, which means that some of them are definitely his ninja, damn him. I take another step back to avoid the slash of a sword and something makes the back of my neck prickle. I�m way too close to the edge. I�m bleeding, winded, and the Curse Seal is starting to take the energy out of me, demanding that I tap into it. Still, surrounded as I am, I�m relatively holding my own.
I can hear what�s going on all around me, but I can�t really look away at the moment and I�m glad I didn�t look when Naruto screamed because I catch a flurry of movement out of the corner of my eye � something I would have missed entirely had I looked away � and then there�s a clearing in the wall of enemy-nin behind me as the source of that motion tackles me around the middle driving a shuriken farther into my side as we go flying. There�s a moment of weightlessness as I grab the smaller body that had tackled me and summon up all the chakra I can muster. I just know there�s nothing underneath us anymore� without even looking down.
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NO!!! Red fills my vision as I watch him disappear into the ravine, taken over by the young girl ninja that threw herself at him. Dammit, I can't get to him!! There are too many enemy-nin in my way!!
"Sasuke!!!" I roar, the fox's cry rising to mingle with my own.
"SASUKE!!!!"
TBC...
To your reviews:

In general, we're glad that you like the long chapters. Of course, that means that there will be longer periods of time in between updates and such, but the length of the chapters usually makes up for that. Also I'm pleased with the number of you that feel that the Naruto crew is for the most part In Character. We do our best to keep things from getting too OOC in this one. It's branched from the canon basically and so we try not to do anything too out there.
Michrure - We're glad you enjoyed the humor. Cecilia takes Naruto's parts and i take care of Sasuke's thus dividing things in a manner that lets us go deeper into each individual character. What Naruto fic would be right without the insertion of Kyuubi, ne?
la tensai - Thank you. Sasuke is not the easiest character to portray in any form and stay true to Kishimoto-sama's canon. This might be far from canon at this point, but I can say that at least it was progressed and not just dropped out of the original context. *shrugs* hehehehe the NC-17 portion of this story might or might not be a long time in coming. It depends. Cecilia and I plan and plot endlessly but we usually go with the flow when writing, so things often don't turn out the way we planned exactly. LoL.
campurr - As I said before, your review made me feel like preening, thus the addition of the first part of chapter three so quickly. and then there were fifteen-plus reviews so I decided it had been long enough since I posted this part of the chapter at the webgroup and website that I could legitimately post it here. I hope that you are right and our "ampage" with this story does continue to rise. I enjoy this one more than most of the others. I'm partial I guess. LoL.
H - Darling, this story warned you at the beginning that things would not be like a normal story. This is completely different than anything Cecilia and I have done before in most respects and since we wanted as much detail from both Sasuke and Naruto as possible we opted for first person. To do that with both of them, the point of view has to switch. It does so frequently because we don't want too much for either point of view, but to wrap everything together from both points of view at the same time. If you'll notice, each "post" or each POV change furthers the story just that much more.
Dru - Thank you very much! I at least take the fact that we have kept your "ADD's attention" (as you put it LoL) as a high compliment. I know a few people with ADD and it's not an easy thing to do sometimes. *bows* We're flattered. ^__^
MultifacetedTune - Cecilia is the one who deserves the credit for Naruto and the Kyuubi's consistant banter. As I've mentioned, Naruto's everything is in her hands for this and all of our stories actually. As to how the idea came about... well, we had just wrapped up "Of Sacrifices and Love" and we were both itching to rewrite "Spartan Ninjas" before posting any of it. Our first attempt to re-write "SN" failed entirely because I wasn't satisfied with my portrayal of Sasuke. I was too much in the vamp-Sasuke mindset and so - while I myself was in the shower - I began to think. The first post of Sasuke in the first chapter is the spawn of my brain while I was trying to rediscover as much of original Sasuke as I could. And so there it is. The plotting and planning began after that and here is "Reflections"... a favorite for sure it seems. *smiles* Now you see why I'm a bit partial. hehehe.
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Reflections (Abandoned WIP)