In the cold of space you find the heat of suns

Thank you for the reviews. They inspire me to continue this story.

Warning: Sasuke/Naruto lemon

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

Spacer crews travel the Far Borders and the Fringe of occupied space, trading. Spacing is an ancient and honourable profession carved out by millenniums. Most spacers start out as fourteen-year-old boys seeking a future. Few survive a decade spacing.

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80. Perspectives

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Naruto floated in the warm water. The kits were safe in their new nursery, he had viewed the babies and Kiba had settled surprisingly well. They were on their way to Tarrasade.

Two divs before they had nine infants and their lives changed forever.

Nine.

Six of whom were unplanned and unwanted fox-human hybrids; short-lived, fast-aging and sterile with a variety of foxy features likely to make their lives difficult.

Like a tail.

Or worse.

Like being a berserker who had to be collared to stop him killing the people he loved.


“Dobe?” Sasuke queried.

Naruto focused on Sasuke who was standing at the side of the bath. He flushed. Normally nothing could stop him watching Sasuke wash himself yet Sasuke had finished without him noticing.

Sasuke slid into the water so that they were facing each other. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked.

Naruto shook his head. He tried to smile. He moved towards Sasuke. Sasuke would fuck him. He would stop thinking. His worries about the kits and their future would stop buzzing about his head.

Only Sasuke was holding him at arms’ length. “Naruto, what is wrong?” he demanded.

“I don’t love the kits,” Naruto heard himself say. “I didn’t want them and I don’t love them.”


Naruto was horrified; was that what he really felt? It was true that he did not feel the same way about the kits as he did about the babies. What would Sasuke think of someone who could say such a thing?

Sasuke’s hand came toward his face. Naruto wondered for a split moment whether he was going to hit him, but the movement was slow and it ended with Sasuke’s hand cupping his jaw with his thumb stroking Naruto’s cheek.

“Then I shall love them enough for both of us,” he said.

Naruto’s vision burred with tears. Sasuke was holding him, comforting him, making small noises to calm him, stroking his back.

“I don’t want to raise baby narutos,” Naruto admitted. “I compare my life to the life I had before and it is wonderful. They will compare theirs to Hoshi’s and Haru’s and Hikaru’s. How will life seem good to them?”

Naruto found himself pushed far enough away so that Sasuke could look into his face.

“This isn’t like you, dobe,” he said gently. “You have always said that the quality of life is about loving and being loved, about happy days. Why should the kits feel differently?”


Naruto stilled. Sasuke had a point. He got cross with Sasuke when he obsessed about Naruto’s future and now he was doing the same about the kits.

“I understand now,” he said.

Sasuke looked questioningly at him.

“Why you get the way you do about my future,” he explained. “I understand now, because I feel that way about the kits.”

“I get that way because I love you,” Sasuke reminded him.

Tears trickled down Naruto’s cheeks. “So maybe I do love them?” he asked.

He was gathered back into Sasuke’s arms. “I think so,” Sasuke assured him.


He relaxed into Sasuke’s embrace. It felt good. The tears stopped. They cuddled.

Sasuke smelt wonderful. As their bodies touched and moved over each other his scent changed. He had been interested in fucking; now he was extremely interested in fucking.

Naruto nuzzled Sasuke’s neck, nipping and kissing the pale, smooth skin. He heard Sasuke’s breath hitch. Then, as if Naruto’s attention to his neck had given him permission, Sasuke’s hands slid down Naruto’s back to his buttocks and squeezed.

Naruto loved it when Sasuke kneaded his flesh; the grip of his strong, masseur’s hands. He gave a small growl of pleasure as he was pulled closer. He rubbed his prick against Sasuke, enjoying the feel of his soft underbelly against its tip. Sasuke’s erection pushed against his thigh.

Arching back, Naruto fingered Sasuke’s nipples, delighting in the way they crinkled and the feel of the small, erect nubs against the pads of his thumbs. Leaning back in, he brushed his lips against Sasuke’s.

Sasuke replied by kissing the end of his nose. Their mouths touched for brief, chaste kiss before the tip of Naruto’s tongue darted out and touched Sasuke’s top lip.

Sasuke’s tongue immediately demanded entry and Naruto granted it.

The kiss was long and deep, sending shivers of pleasure down Naruto’s spine; he whimpered when Sasuke pulled away.

Sasuke responded by lifting him up and sitting him on the edge of the tub.

A quick smile and Sasuke dived down to engulf his prick. Naruto arched with pleasure, gripping the rim to stop himself falling backwards. Sasuke’s hands were holding him, steadying him, liberating Naruto’s hands to roam through Sasuke’s hair, across his shoulders and down his back.

Sasuke’s mouth moved down and then up Naruto’s erection, massaging the sensitive tip with his tongue. Naruto felt himself on the edge of switching, of wanting to possess Sasuke rather than be possessed by him. He growled a warning and Sasuke pulled his mouth away, planting small kisses of apology up over his hip and across his ribs before lifting Naruto back down into the water for another thorough kissing.


The warm water and the kiss lulled him; Naruto clung to his mate, his body soft and malleable and his mind awash with the desire to be comforted, possessed and fulfilled.

Sasuke reached past him for a sheet of material that floated.

Naruto found himself on his front, his upper chest arms and head supported by the float. He felt Sasuke spread his legs and shivered in anticipation.

Hands cupped and thumbs separated his buttocks. There was a teasing caress as Sasuke blew on his skin. Naruto felt his balls tighten and his hole twitch. He whimpered his need.

The warm, firm sweep of Sasuke’s tongue on his balls; Naruto yipped with delight. He gasped, moaned and whimpered as Sasuke licked his hole, thrusting his tongue within.


Not deep enough; Naruto wanted, needed, more. He did not understand why his mate would not give him more. He wriggled. He squeaked. He thought about giving his mate a nip to reinforce the message.

Then fingers delved within and found his button. Naruto squealed his pleasure. For a while his mate kept pace with his growing demands but soon fingers were not enough. He wanted more. He needed more.

He needed more now.

Naruto twisted about, whimpering as his hole was suddenly empty but intent on getting what he needed. He wrapped his legs about his mate’s ribs and lowered his hole towards its target.

Sasuke reacted quickly, supporting some of Naruto’s weight with one hand and guiding his erection to Naruto’s hole with the other.

Naruto sank down Sasuke’s length with a contented sigh.


He leaned back, holding onto his mate’s shoulders and shifting the position of his legs until he had better leverage. Sasuke moved backwards to brace himself against the side of the tub. Naruto smiled his approval and began.

He moved; slow then fast, deep then shallow, leaning back for maximum pleasure and then forward when it became almost too much to bear.

Until finally, blissfully, his need receded and he could focus on his mate’s pleasure rather than his own.

Each movement was judged against the reaction it evoked. He was rewarded by trembling muscles, hooded eyes and escalating moans. Sasuke arched his back, his head went back displaying his neck and there was that glorious expression of abandonment as he screamed.


Naruto clung, not wanting to let go but ready to react should Sasuke lose his footing and slide under the water. Sasuke managed to stay upright. Once he had recovered, he unwrapped Naruto’s legs from around him and sat down on the step that ran around the inside of the tub. Naruto settled into his lap, nuzzled his neck and purred.

“That was different,” Sasuke commented.

Naruto struggled to find words. “Needed you,” he admitted and then lapsed back into purring.

Sasuke stroked his back. “Do you want to stay here or go back to our room?”

Naruto did not answer. He had used up his supply of words.

“Back to our room then,” Sasuke told him, “before I have to try to carry you.”


Naruto whined as he was lifted and sat on the edge of the tub. Sasuke climbed out, swivelled Naruto about, pulled him to his feet and dressed him in a robe. He then parked him on a stool while he drained the bath, cleaned it, collected their stuff into a basket and donned his own robe.

Naruto watched him. He was in a happy, contented place. Being close to his mate was enough. He allowed Sasuke to guide him to their room. He even carried the basket.


Once inside he abandoned the basket, shed his robe and climbed onto the bed. He looked at Sasuke expectantly and managed to find a few words.

“More? Please?”


Naruto woke next morning feeling wonderful. He had not felt so good in a long time, since before Kabuto had raided the ship. He sat up and stretched.

Sasuke was fast asleep. Naruto doubted that he would wake anytime soon; he had persuaded Sasuke to fuck him twice after the time in the bath.

At least Naruto did not have to worry about disturbing him. He showered, dressed, viewed the babies, checked the kits and then made his way to the galley.


Iruka was there, alone. He smiled to see Naruto. Naruto kissed his cheek.

“No Kono-kun?” he asked.

Iruka smiled. “Kono-kun is no longer the early riser he once was. Inari wears him out. The two of them will be here precisely on time, but no earlier.”

Naruto sat down at the table. Iruka poured him some tea.

“I am glad we are all home and heading for Tarrasade,” Iruka confessed.

“With additions,” Naruto noted, thinking about the meal the evening before at which Kiba had struggled to master the cutlery and Itachi had been infallibly polite despite almost half the crew making it blatantly obvious that they hated him.

“With additions,” Iruka acknowledged. “It will be fine, Naru-kun. We are very lucky to have Kiba-san. Not only will he help us raise the kits but he is a friend to Gaara-san and Shikamaru says he is an exceptionally skilled technician.”

“And Itachi?” Naruto queried.

“That may be a little more tricky,” Iruka admitted.


There was no opportunity to discuss it further because the three cats arrived; first Tayuya and then Konohamaru and Inari together. Naruto noticed that Iruka did not move or say anything but that the three of them began setting the table and making breakfast. Tayuya was cook and Inari her assistant while Konohamaru served.

“Their teamwork scores were distressingly low,” Iruka told him. “One of the challenges I set them was working together in the morning.”

Naruto nodded approvingly, then touched Iruka’s arm as he spotted a figure at the doorway between the galley and Haku’s crew room.

Iruka was immediately on his feet. “Itachi-san, please join us,” he invited.

Naruto watched Itachi walk across the galley towards them. He had never seen anyone who moved more gracefully.

If Itachi saw the expression of hatred on Konohamaru’s face he gave no sign of it.

“Iruka-san, Naruto-san,” Itachi acknowledged before taking a seat at the table.

Naruto settled for a nod. He did not think that Itachi merited being addressed as Itachi-san, but he had no wish to insult him.

Iruka poured him tea.

“What do you eat for breakfast, Itachi-san?” Tayuya asked.

Itachi smiled at her. “If there is any fruit, it would be appreciated, Tayuya-kun, and perhaps some bread.”

Naruto noticed that while Konohamaru brought everything else the dried fruit was delivered by Tayuya, perhaps because Kono-kun refused to do so or maybe because Tayuya was hoping for a second smile, which she did indeed receive.

“I would appreciate it if you would add me to the duty rosters, Iruka-san,” Itachi said. “I will, of course, do anything that you decide but I hope that I can be useful and not inflict my presence on others.”

Iruka nodded. “I will allocate you some standard duties, such as we all share. It will be up to others to consider your specific skills in more detail.”

“Thank you, Iruka-san,” Itachi replied and them began to eat neatly but swiftly, obviously hoping to be gone from the galley before others arrived.


Naruto saw Iruka’s gaze going again and again to the doorway. He knew that he was doing the same. What Itachi could not know was that he had chosen precisely the time Haku breakfasted.

Haku was three steps into the galley before he saw Itachi at the table. Naruto knew that there was no way that Haku would turn about and leave, just as there was no chance of Itachi leaving his meal half eaten and withdrawing. They ignored each other, Haku pointedly and Itachi quietly.

When Itachi finished he stacked his crockery and stood.

“Please excuse me Iruka-san, Naruto-san, Haku-san,” he said. He took his crockery and cutlery to the sink. “Thank you, Tayuya-kun,” he added.

Then he left.

Naruto found himself expelling a sigh of relief.

Haku sniffed. “You need not worry, Naruto-san; I shall not create a scene every time we meet.” He twirled his butter knife between his fingers and Naruto was left with the inescapable impression he wished it much sharper and applied to parts of Itachi’s anatomy. “He has told Kisame to fuck me and me that he is fine with it,” he continued.

Naruto already knew, Sasuke had told him, but Iruka choked on his mouthful of food. Naruto patted his back and poured him more tea. Haku was scowling at the door through which Itachi had exited.

“Now I have to decide if he means it and whether it is a good idea,” he added.

Iruka had recovered enough to speak. “What does Kisame think?” he asked.

“Kisame can be relied on to think with his cock,” Haku informed them. “The problem is, will he be fucking me, Haku, or me as a substitute for Itachi?”

“He does not fuck Itachi?” Iruka checked.

“No,” Haku replied. He looked over to the cats and Naruto guessed he would go into more detail if they had not been present.

“I do not think Kisame-san will be thinking of anyone else when he is with you, Haku-kun,” Naruto told him. “I do not think anyone could and I do not think Kisame-san would want to.”

Haku smiled at him. “That is kind of you,” he replied. “However, I would be foolish to underestimate the strength of the bond between them.” He sipped his tea. “I shall have to think about it.”


Next to make an appearance was Kiba. He sat at the table looking uncomfortable. When Iruka asked him what he would like to eat he said he was not hungry, which Naruto was sure was a lie. Iruka responded by telling the cats to put out a selection of food, but Kiba just sipped his tea and stared at his empty plate.

Naruto realised that he was not eating because they had all finished. He had no one to imitate. Naruto smiled to himself; for once he had an excuse for a second breakfast.

He served himself from the food on the table and ate. Kiba watched for a while and then started eating. Haku and Iruka studied them, fascinated, but covering their interest with small talk.

“What do you do other than look after little ones, Kiba-san?” Haku asked.

Kiba was careful to swallow his mouthful of food before speaking. “I did all the cleaning and tidying. I was also Kabuto-san’s laboratory assistant. I like working hard. I was built to be like that.” He looked to Iruka. “Can you give me work? There will be little to do until the kits are decanted.”

“We share the cleaning and tidying here, Kiba-san. It is an important part of being crew that everyone contributes. I shall assign you some chores, but it will not be many.”

Kiba looked disappointed.

“Shikamaru-san tells me you are a talented technician,” Iruka continued. “I have a feeling that he and Shino-san will have a very long list of tasks for you.”

Naruto watched Kiba perk up.

“And perhaps, Naru-kun, this would be a good time to persuade Gaara-san to try moving into the guest apartment while Kiba-san has some time to spend with him. If Gaara-san wishes to remain with us in Tarrasade, it will be much better if he could live in an apartment rather than on his ship.

“Also the three of us and Kurenai-san need to discuss the nursery in the household in Tarrasade. There are probably many decisions that must be made.”

Kiba looked positively happy at the thought of so much to do.

“What do you do for leisure, Kiba-san?” Haku asked.

“Leisure?” Kiba queried.

“For pleasure and relaxation,” Haku clarified.

Kiba scowled at him. “I was not built or trained for pleasure or relaxation. I was built and trained to work hard and to serve others by doing everyday tasks that are too boring for purebreds to bother with.”

There was silence, which Haku broke. “Naruto has fun, maybe you can too.”

“Naruto is a much more complex hybrid than I am,” Kiba answered. “One of his many functions is entertaining the purebred to whom he is bonded.”

Naruto could see that Kiba’s choice of words was unsettling Iruka and annoying Haku. “Perhaps you could go beyond your design and training, Kiba-san,” he suggested.

Kiba considered and nodded. “Most hybrids are capable of far more than the engineers who built them intended. Even the minkies, and they have a far smaller proportion of human genes than you or I. Or Gaara. Or Kisame-san.”

Iruka topped up everyone’s tea cups. “Have you ever thought, Kiba-san,” he said, “that perhaps your training was more about limiting your behaviour rather than encouraging you to explore your potential?”

Kiba was silent. Naruto could tell that he was thinking. “No, I have not thought that,” Kiba replied. “But it is an interesting thought. Do you think it may also be true of purebreds?”

Iruka stared at him for a moment, then laughed. “Yes, Kiba-san, I believe that it may be as true of purebreds as it is of hybrids.” He smiled. “You know, Kiba-san, I think you and I are going to be good for each other.”

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Author’s note.

As usual, I struggled with the lemon, even more so than usual because it is written solely from Naruto’s point of view, which I have never tried to do before. Having made up a character that has different modes (normal [i.e. bonded], berserk, fluffy-soft, growling-possessive) it is a real challenge to write them from Naruto’s POV.

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