All In | By : momhuey8 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 1711 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1 |
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. |
Just a reminder...Constellations and All In are still walking hand in hand. Hang in there until Chapter 15. Oh yeah, and I'm loving this whole 'review' thing. Wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit to read a few more.
In fact, I'm finding the desire to engage in dialog with my reviewers. I have a lot to say on many things; my story, the Naruto-verse, my motivations, my characters and their motivations, life... Later I think I'm going to need a whole area to defend my plot direction...methinks not everyone is going to like it. Was thinking about starting a forum of my own. If I do, I'll post the details here.
One evening an opportunity to change the status quo arose. Sasuke recognized it and took it. He’d just sat on the end of the couch and set his tea on the end table, when Naruto wandered into the living room, towel drying his hair.
“Whatcha doing?”
“I’m going to read for a while.” Sasuke held up his book so the other could read the cover.
“Is it good?”
“I’ve heard that it is, but I haven’t started it yet.” Sasuke looked speculatively at the other teen. “Sit down and I’ll read it aloud.”
Naruto hesitated, casting several looks at the door, but finally said, “Okay,” and dropped into the chair across the room.
Sasuke opened the book and began to read, “The river flowed south, having no other option…”
Thus began a nightly ritual. Eventually Sasuke convinced Naruto to move to the couch next to him, so that he wouldn’t have to shout across the room.
From there, Sasuke used Naruto’s distraction in the story to maneuver him into laying his head on a pillow on Sasuke’s leg. The readings didn’t last terribly long, a chapter a night, but each came to secretly cherish the relaxing cocoon where they were together, but with the safety of another world between them.
One evening, about a fourth of the way through the book, Sasuke had stopped for a few moments to sip his tea.
“Sasuke?”
“Hm?”
“Do you think Kisho-san made the right decision to go to the forest to live alone?” he asked about the book’s main protagonist.
“That depends.” He set down his cup. “What do you think?”
“I can see why he would want to go. His life was nothing but rejection and pain.” Naruto fiddled with the fringe on the pillow under his head. “If you’re alone, no one can hurt you.”
“That’s probably true.” Naruto was deep enough in thought that he seemed unaware when Sasuke brushed the hair off his forehead and left his fingers tangled in the strands. “But what if, by leaving, he misses out on a bond that could change his life?”
Naruto frowned. “Maybe.”
After several more readings, Naruto was immersed in the story again. His head was on Sasuke’s lap and he was running a finger absently over the ribbing on the brunette’s shirt. As Sasuke closed the book for the night, Naruto seemed agitated.
“This isn’t going to have a happy ending is it? When he finds out that she only has a year to live, it’s going to kill him.” He shook his head, frowning. “The ending is going to be terrible. He should have stayed in the forest.”
“Do you think so?”
Naruto looked at Sasuke. “You don’t?”
“What if something happens to him before she dies? What if he dies first?”
Naruto blinked. “Then she’ll be the one hurt. Either way…”
“But they will have had at least one year together; possibly the happiest of both their lives. Would that be a happy ending?” His hand was resting lightly on Naruto’s chest. “Would it be worth coming out of the forest then?”
“I’ve never had anyone so I don’t know, but you told me it wouldn’t be.”
Sasuke sat up, frowning. “I did?”
“Well, yeah. Back when you left, you told me that I was luckier because I’d never had bonds. That it was worse to have them and then lose them. I think you’re probably right.” He missed the stunned look on Sasuke’s face.
Sasuke felt sick. Gods, but Naruto was right; Sasuke had told him that very thing. And he had meant it at the time with every cell in his being. But now… When had that changed?
“Naruto,” he whispered. “I…
Naruto rolled toward him. “What’s wrong?”
“I wasn’t right. I mean, I was young and it …hurt so badly at the time, but,” Sasuke floundered. This seemed so terribly important, for both their sakes.
“You’ve changed your mind, then?”
Absolutely he had. He didn’t know when or how, although the blond in his lap played no small part in the ‘why.’
“Yes. When I was young, after…everything, losing the bonds I had was almost too painful to bear.” He didn’t realize he was gripping Naruto’s hand. “But part of the reason it was so painful was the hatred and anger I let fill me. It made me lose sight of how lucky I was to have my family while I did.”
He looked down and caressed a whiskered cheek. “I couldn’t appreciate then that there were those who never had a mother to fill their days and nights with comfort and warmth; those who never had a father to be their strength until they were old enough to stand up with their own strength.”
“You’re feeling pity for me.” Naruto narrowed his eyes.
“No.” Sasuke looked thoughtful. “Sad, maybe. And sorry that I wanted to rip away from you the only bond you had.”
Naruto shrugged. “I get it, though. It’s like you said, bonds are painful.”
“But the pain isn’t the point. The bonds are the point.” Sasuke was clutching Naruto’s hand. “In our book, Kisho may not have wanted a new bond, but he has one now anyway. Do you think his pain would be less if he ran away from it at this point, or if he stayed and cherished the time they have together?”
“I don’t know,” Naruto whispered. “If you were Kisho, would you stay knowing…”
“If I had another chance at a bond like that, I would give everything I had to it and not try to predict the future.”
That was the last night Naruto let Sasuke read to him from that book.
It was also the night that Sasuke vowed that Naruto would be his.
Sasuke decided that the readings, while enjoyable were probably too touchy feely for Naruto. And, as it turned out, the story was hitting too close to home. He was at a loss how to proceed until one evening during dinner.
Naruto had been quiet for the last couple of days after their discussion about bonds, but finally as he poked at his dinner he spoke.
"So Sasuke, what really brings you back to Konoha?" Even though he wouldn’t look at Sasuke, his tone was breezy, as if he couldn't care less about the answer.
Sasuke had wondered if Naruto would ever come right out and ask. He knew Naruto wondered at his place in Sasuke’s motives for return and he realized this was his perfect chance to step up his game.
Again, the dark eyed ninja had a variety of answers from which he could choose. He could evade, or insult; he could throw himself uselessly against the wall the blond teen had erected. Or he could opt to try to speak to the Naruto he knew better than anyone else.
He thought a moment, then he had an inspiration, an idea that would allow him to corner the evasive ninja and force them to spend time together.
Liking the idea the more he thought about it, he said, "I would ask that you consider training me."
The look on Naruto’s face was alarming. His mouth dropped open. Then closed and opened again. Then he turned around as if looking to see who Sasuke was really talking to.
"Riiight. Pull the other one. It has bells on it."
Sasuke noted that the whiskered face was a virtual kaleidoscope of emotions. Even his mask was a dead giveaway that his emotions were running stronger than ever. He wondered how the blond survived enemy encounters when everything he thought was parading across his face like a Dragon Dance costume.
"I am in need of a new teacher and it was my hope that you would have the time and the inclination..."
"Hold on just a mother fucking minute. I'm the god-damned loser. Sasuke’s little dead-last,” Naruto interrupted, not even trying to keep the smile on, or the anger off, his face. “Why the fuck would you want me to train you?"
"It is widely known that you are the one of strongest shinobi of the five great nations and, since I killed Orochimaru, it’s safe to assume I had outgrown him."
Naruto sat frozen. He blinked several times, just staring at Sasuke. Finally he seemed to get a grip and the jester was back in charge.
"You really killed the snake bastard?" Sasuke nodded and Naruto continued, grinning and leaning on his elbows, "Is that what you do with all your teachers when you’re done with them?"
"It is too early to confirm with any certainty, but if it puts your mind at ease, I understand that Kakashi-sensei is in good health." Sasuke smirked.
Naruto leaned across the table and nodded his head. "You did grow a sense of humor, you bastard." He crossed his arms and grinned, studying the brunette for several moments. "We'll talk."
The next afternoon, Naruto accompanied Sasuke around the perimeter of the property as he took stock of the Uchiha border fence.
"Training, huh?" Naruto and Sasuke had been walking side by side companionably, both heads down, hands in pockets, each fairly comfortable in the other's presence.
"When you're ready."
"My leg healed ages ago. We can start whenever." He kicked a rock absently. "But that’s not really why you came back is it?"
Sasuke was silent for a long time. Long enough for Naruto to wonder if he'd asked the question out loud.
"No.” At Naruto’s nod, he added quickly, “I do want to train with you, but no, that’s not why I came back.” He was silent again for another minute until Naruto thought he wasn’t going to answer.
Then Sasuke said, “I've been thinking about the...relationships in my life." He was silent another moment. "Rather, the lack of relationships. I've been feeling that I want...something more."
Naruto looked up sharply. "You mean like a romantic relationship?"
"Yes, I suppose."
Naruto's mask, and the accompanying overabundance of activity and noise, was back in place so quickly that Sasuke felt disoriented.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" He grabbed Sasuke by the arm and spun him around.
"Let's see." He stood back and eyed the brunette, his index finger tapping his lips. "How about...." He posed Sasuke, putting one pale hand on one slim hip. He then fluffed Sasuke's hair and stepped back again.
"There, that should attract just about every female…and male…in the village over the age of eleven. I admit the sorting process is going to be a grind, but I think you’re up..."
His dialog was interrupted by a ninja sandal planted in the middle of his chest. He lay sprawled in a bush, staring up at the sky.
"Will someone please send me after some dangerous criminals before I end up in a hospital?" he yelled to the clouds above. "What the fuck bastard?"
"Moron," Sasuke growled as he offered Naruto his hand and pulled him to his feet. With a final smack to the back of the blond head, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started back down the path.
Naruto quickly caught up and soon they were walking in synch again. Finally he sighed,
"Kind of funny, but I've been thinking a lot about that, too."
"What?" Sasuke thought a moment before realizing to what Naruto was referring. "You mean relationships?"
"Yeah." He abused a few more stones in his path. "I wonder what it would be like to...I don't know...have someone of my own."
"Well, as you pointed out, that should be easy enough. I know of at least three people in town who are quite in love with you."
Naruto snorted. "Uh huh."
He cast a speculative look at Naruto. "In fact, I'm certain your relationship with the Hyuuga could be all that you’re looking for."
"Hyuuga? The Hyuuga? You mean Neji?" Naruto's voice was getting shriller with each word. Then his mouth opened and closed like a carp, no sound coming out at all.
"In fact, Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan informs us all that Hyuuga Neji is happiest when he...how did she put it...has your dick up his ass."
Naruto literally stumbled. "What? Neji...I...we," His face was a startling shade of red. Then he swiped his hands in a large motion, slicing them through the air. "Neji and I have never...I would never... No."
He and Sasuke were stopped once again on the path as Sasuke observed these reactions. Smirking he turned and started walking again.
Naruto caught up.
"She really said that? In front of people?" He was shaking his head in bewilderment.
“Hn. Not long after Sai was rhapsodizing about the wonders of your penis.”
“Aa! What the fuck? Does this village wait for me to leave so they can sit around and dissect my sex life?”
“So it seems.”
"That fucking Sai has never met my penis.” He looked sideways at Sasuke. “Anyway, not Neji, not Sai, not anyone from the village."
“Why not?"
"Sasuke, there are only a handful of people in Konoha that can even stand me. If I started ..." He shook his head firmly. "I have to live here. I'm not messing with any of those relationships."
"Are you sure? Hinata worships the ground you walk on."
Naruto was quiet for several moments and Sasuke glanced to the side to try to read what Naruto was thinking.
Finally, Naruto muttered, "Sasuke, can you keep a secret?"
"Yes."
"Well, see, Hinata-chan is...a girl."
"You should be thankful she isn't here, moron, or she'd introduce you to eight trigrams, sixty four palms of pain."
"Huh?"
"I'm pretty sure everyone already knows she's a girl, dumbass." He leaned over and added in a loud whisper, "It's the giant breasts that give it away."
Sasuke and Naruto were once again stopped on the path.
"Eh, that's not what I...huh? She has giant breasts?"
"Decidedly. You haven't noticed?"
"Er, well, see, that's what I mean." He made several pained expressions and blushed. "You're probably gonna hate me and change your mind about training with me, but you oughtta know, I guess. See...girlsareokaybuttheyjustdon'tdoitformelikeguys." He was blushing madly and panting. "Okay?" he yelled, throwing his arms wide.
"Hn." Sasuke just shrugged and headed once again down the path.
Naruto jogged and caught up.
“You aren’t mad?”
“Certainly not.” His lip twitched. “Be glad Orochimaru wasn’t aware of your preference. The price on your head in Sound would have been double.”
“Ew, that’s just…ew. He’s older than Izanagi.” Suddenly he looked stricken. “Sasuke…you and the snake bastard…” He looked green.
“Orochimaru-sensei was a rather…frustrated individual. Aside from the age difference, his hygiene made him rather unappealing.”
“So he really was a greasy cock sucker.” Naruto nudged Sasuke with his elbow and snickered. “Get it? Greasy? Cock sucker?” Sasuke rolled his eyes.
“But what about you? Pretty as you are, they had to be salivating over you like a pack of dogs over a new bone.” He nudged Sasuke with his elbow again and waggled his eyebrows lewdly. “Get it? Bone?”
Sasuke smacked him in the back of the head. “I did have to explain to several of them that I was there for training. I have a collection of teeth that I wore on a string around my wrist.”
“Ha!” Naruto slapped the brunette on the shoulder.
“So what, did they have some pretty little servants on base?”
“I was there for training.”
Naruto blinked several times, momentarily at a loss for words. “I was training too, but…” He shook his head and scratched his cheek.
“Well, anyway, now that you’re back and looking for something more, maybe you and Sakura…”
“No.”
“But she has the doilies crocheted and the Sakura tattoo for your ass all picked out.” Naruto snickered. At Sasuke’s cross look he added, “Seriously, I’ve seen it.”
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. ‘Naw, just kidding.” Just as the brunette’s face relaxed, Naruto snickered again. “It really says “Mine,” and she plans to engrave it on your dick.”
"Naruto, can you keep a secret?" The blond nodded.
He leaned into Naruto's space, keeping his hands in his pockets. "Sakura is a girl."
His smirk almost morphed into a full-fledged grin as the blond turned on his heel and stalked away. He could clearly hear him repeating under his breath, "no fucking the villagers, no fucking the villagers..."
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