Full Circle

Full Circle

chapter 10

The instant Naruto awoke, a sleepy smile spread over his face. After a quick stretch, arching his back up off the bed, he rolled off the side and crawled across the floor to his guitar case. Opening the case, he sat cross-legged on the floor, settled the guitar comfortably in position and gave a cursory check of the tuning before starting to pick out the melody that was running through his mind. He played the first few bars over more quickly, getting the arrangement well cemented and reached up behind him to pull a notebook off the desk, tugging the pen out of the spiral and flipping it open one-handedly to mark down the tabs, leaving spaces for lyrics.

The lyrics came with a certain ease soon afterward. Naruto felt a joyous excitement well up inside his chest. He loved these moments, when it came so naturally and the song practically wrote itself. They were far too rare in his opinion, but then he always seemed to be so damn busy. He almost wished sometimes that he could just travel to some far off place and leave everything behind, telling everyone that he couldn't be reached and he didn't know when he'd be back. He'd bask in the peace of it all, waiting for most of the people he knew, and 'all' of the people he didn't, to eventually forget his existence. He was sure they would forget him quite easily. They couldn't possibly all need him in their lives and he 'needed' to give up the hectic schedule he'd been keeping.

Right now, at this moment he could almost reach out and touch that blissful peace. The song that was rolling smoothly out of him was slow and gentle and sweet and he absolutely loved it. The way it magnified that feeling was perfectly wonderful. Before he knew it, he had written several verses and was considering the possibility of a purely instrumental bridge.

Sasuke felt a little odd about what he was doing as he entered the pool-house. Naruto was late to breakfast. Very late in fact and the blond was usually at the table before Sasuke. It wasn't his style to worry about anyone so he had sat there alone, eating his meal and trying to tell himself that he was enjoying the quiet. He hadn't had breakfast alone in nearly two weeks. The solitude was... nice...

By the time he was on the last bite however, he couldn't stop his mind from wondering what the blazes had happened to his fiance. (Not that he was 'worried'.) Maybe he was sick? The mental image of the sunny, blond boy laying in bed, ill and incapacitated was too incongruous to be accepted. He shove the unsettling thought away all too quickly. Perhaps he should go and check on him, just to be sure. Crap! He really 'was' worried.

So he now found himself making his way quietly through the pool-house towards Naruto's bedroom, feeling kind of stupid about the whole thing. As he got closer to the door, he suddenly stopped, his brows meeting in a curious expression. He could hear the soft strum of a lone guitar.

An old clock strikes the hour
And he looks up from his work
Walks toward the window
To see another sunset
The final moment hasn't come yet
So he must return to earth

The voice was soft but clear, sweet and simple. Was this Naruto singing? This was why he hadn't come to breakfast? Sasuke moved a little closer to hear the words better.

In this same hour of every day
He grows his wings and flies away
Standing in this dusty room
He can be seen but he is gone
His body whole, his soul dispersed
But then he will return to earth

When he flies, to him it seems
He can be anywhere he dreams
On calm green seas by full moon lit
Cast out the line and follow it
Then dreamers by some law perverse
Must always return to earth

Sasuke wondered, as he let himself lean up against the wall by the door, if this was a song that Naruto was writing, or had written, himself. His head tilted back to rest on the wall, his eyes slowly sliding closed as the mellow pace and soothing tenor voice lulled him into relaxation.

To the wise a need can be discerned
For an empty world that we have spurned
Would spin alone in the universe
If nobody returned to earth

It's the role of fate, so many think
To set our stories down in ink
Inscribed so deep within our minds
Just look around and you will find
Hidden in every song and verse
The words; you must return to earth

To the wise a need can be discerned
For an empty world that we have spurned
Would spin alone in the universe
If nobody returned to earth

If nobody returned to earth

The music slowly trailed off and a moment later, Sasuke shook himself. He straightened up and turned to face the door, hardly able to realize how ridiculous he was acting. One does not skulk about in hallways eavesdropping on people and mooning over pretty songs. It wasn't even that great of a song and even Naruto himself admitted that his voice was only mediocre.

"The tune's kind of catchy maybe, but the lyrics are just juvenile," he thought to himself as he gave two swift knocks and opened the door. Naruto was sitting on the floor in a patch of sunlight that lit his messy blond hair in a wild sort of halo and shone brilliantly on his white t-shirt. One slim, tanned hand was tenderly stroking the neck of the guitar on his lap while the other scribbled away in the notebook that he was leaning over. He looked so calm and focussed and happy, with the almost lazy smile playing over his lips. Something about this very un-extraordinary scene somehow stole Sasuke's breath away. Something strange was happening in his chest.

"Naruto?" he forced out, and Naruto looked up at him and smiled that absolutely breathtaking smile that he'd seen him give when he was introduced to Itachi. He almost felt like stumbling back from the force of it.

"Sasuke!" Naruto looked and sounded like he might literally burst from joy. His own name had never sounded so amazing. He had a stray thought, before he could catch himself, that he'd like to hear his name said exactly that way on a regular basis for the rest of his life.

"Sure," he told himself wryly. "All I'd have to do is actually marry him and then keep him happy." Naruto bounced up, setting his guitar on the bed and began to gush about how he'd woken up feeling so inspired and how everything had fallen right into place and how great he felt right now, while somehow managing to work in an apology for not meeting him for breakfast. Sasuke shook his head, a smile that was becoming more and more familiar as of late, sneaking up on him once again.

"Well, I guess it is a pretty good song," he thought. "... After all, Nsync could get away with crap like 'bye bye bye'." (Yeah, it made him feel better to balance out his mental compliment by mentally burning someone right afterward. So sue him.)

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"Ok, ok, I give up!" The laughing exclamation came from a blond, bronzed and very wet young man who had found himself at the mercy of two determined Uchihas. After Naruto's brunch, Itachi had dropped Takara off. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the summer heat made it the perfect day to take advantage of the huge pool. At first, Takara and Naruto ganged up on Sasuke in a game of splashing and dunking. When the older Uchiha had finally complained of the unfairness of this, the game switched to every man for himself. Takara had found himself at a bit of a disadvantage though and eventually he'd teamed up with Sasuke against Naruto. For some reason, Sasuke failed to point out the unfairness of 'this' development.

"Hey! Are you getting out?" Takara called as the blond began to swim for the ladder.

"Yeah. I've got to start getting ready to go. I lost track of time again and Sai will be here soon," he answered. Sasuke scowled darkly at the explanation.

"Awww!" Takara pouted.

"Sorry buddy. I already told him I'd go." Naruto smile apologetically to the little boy before hoisting himself up out of the pool. Just as he was walking over to get a towel, Sai came strolling out the back door.

"Well now. There's a pleasant surprise. I might just reconsider going out anywhere now," he said, looking Naruto over appreciatively. "I don't suppose I could get you to go as you are?" Naruto blushed brightly and quickly threw the towel around himself. "Ah," the brunet sighed teasingly. "I didn't think so. You're a lucky guy Sasuke."

If either of them had bothered to actually look at Sasuke at that moment, they'd have caught him looking like he was about to grow fangs and claws. Watching the way Sai stared at the half naked blond had flicked an undiscovered switch inside him that set his blood boiling in a way he'd never experienced. As it was however, Naruto, now safely ensconced in his towel, was able to laugh off his momentary discomfort. Over the past two weeks he'd come to expect this type of behaviour from Sai and as Sasuke always shrugged it off, he'd copied that attitude and come to act like it was no big deal. He simply excused himself and slipped into the pool-house to get dried off and changed. Once the blond disappeared inside, Sai sidled up to Sasuke, who was now sitting on the side of the pool.

"Ok, so I'm gonna need sixty dollars right now," he informed his employer in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Get my pants," Sasuke sighed, pointing to the bench where he'd tossed the pants. Sai grabbed them and handed them over and Sasuke fished his wallet out of the pocket. He pulled out three twenties and held them out, but then pulled them back when Sai reached for them. "What exactly is this money for?" he asked.

"It's for your benefit. Believe me," said Sai as he snatched the bills. "It's to pay off the kids I bribed."

"What?! What kids?"

"I told Naruto he could meet some of the kids I mentor today. I got three kids to do it for twenty dollars each." Sasuke's jaw dropped open. This guy was sick!! 'This' was what he was paying him for?!

"Kay I'm ready to go!" Naruto called cheerfully as he bounded back outside, fully dressed if still a little wet. Sasuke watched, speechless as Sai opened the back door politely for the blond.

"Bye Uncle Naru!" Takara called from the middle of the pool. Sasuke felt his heart squeeze painfully at the name and it got even worse with the way Naruto's face lit up completely upon hearing it.

"I'll see you later Takara! Bye Sasuke!"

"Alright ,now when you meet them, remember not to ask too many questions about their situation," Sai was explaining as they left. "It makes them kind of uncomfortable."

Sasuke really didn't know if he could keep this crap up any longer. He couldn't even pretend that he was remotely comfortable about any of this anymore. His doubts and guilt had most definitely made the leap from subconscious to conscious and were steadily growing. He could still call it off with little difficulty, but this was the only chance he had of making his own decision. If he threw away this plan, he'd be stuck with the consequences. What if he regretted it after?

"Hi Dad!" Takara's voice jerked him out of his introspection and he looked up to see that Itachi had come to get his son.

"Hello there. Did you have fun today?" Itachi asked as Takara climbed out of the pool.

"Yeah!! We had pizza for lunch and me an Uncle Sasu and Uncle Naru played in the pool and had splash fights and stuff! But then Uncle Naru had to leave with that guy. I don't like that guy Daddy. And Uncle Sasu's not as much fun without Uncle Naru around." The little boy had to pause for breath as his father wrapped a towel around him.

"Well, that does sound like fun. You really like Naruto a lot hmm?"

"Yeah!! He's the greatest!" Itachi subtly pointed to Sasuke who was watching them from where he still sat at the edge of the pool. "Oh, and you too Uncle Sasu!" Takara added.

"Why don't you go in and get changed," said Itachi. As soon as the little boy had disappeared, Itachi walked over to his brother. To his highly trained eye, Sasuke looked troubled.

"Is something wrong Sasuke?" For a moment Sasuke actually contemplated answering the question honestly and asking his brother for some advice on the situation.

"It's nothing," he sighed. Itachi's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly then he nodded and looked up into the perfect blue sky.

"Takara is completely enamoured with your fiance." He flicked his gaze down quickly and caught Sasuke's tiny wince before looking back upward. "I really like him too." 'That' had Sasuke's head jerking up to send a wide eyed look at him. Itachi almost 'never' spoke of such things so bluntly. Seeing that he had his brother's full attention, Itachi turned to face him with a serious expression. "I believe Mother actually made a very good choice. You're lucky to have this opportunity little brother."

"What would 'you' know about it?" Sasuke bit out, scowling darkly. "You messed up your own opportunity." Itachi seemed somewhat taken aback but his features smoothed back out right away and he shook his head.

"You're mistaken Sasuke. I never did have this kind of opportunity."

"You got to choose your bride all on your own damnit! You were 'better off' than me! And it 'still' went all to hell. The 'last' thing I want is to end up like you."

"I did not get to choose as I would have preferred." Itachi's voice had softened. "Things may not have turned out so well as they might have, but I had no illusions of perfection. I was never in love with Akuma and I am not heart-broken, nor even overly surprised by the outcome." Sasuke stopped, his throat choking off even as he opened his mouth to speak.

"You... I thought you..."

"I've never been interested in females, in that way, anymore than you have little brother. I did not have the benefit of the way being smoothed over for me by the Uzumakis however. The pressure for me to choose a wife was on before those events occurred. My sexuality was still unacceptable at the time and as the eldest, it was expected that I produce an heir. I made a choice."

"You're gay?!" Sasuke hadn't been so rattled since... since he'd been told he was engaged to a man! Itachi smirked at his reaction.

"Akuma was a proper, respectable girl and easy enough to get along with. She was the best I could do under the circumstances. Unfortunately, 'she' had some illusions of her own. I failed to make the situation clear to her and she had hoped that I would eventually come to love her. I didn't want her that way though and as soon as I knew she was pregnant, I kept to myself completely. She was understandably upset. I should have told her outright that she had no such chance with me, let her know exactly what she was getting into. She thinks I led her on and she feels trapped and betrayed."

"That's why she turned into such a bitch."

"Do not speak so of her." Itachi admonished. "She's hurt and disappointed."

"Well she's right. You 'did' lead her on didn't you? You let her believe that you 'wanted' to marry her." After a moment of silence, Sasuke chuckled quietly. Itachi raised a brow at him. "It's a little ironic," he explained. "You're gay and were forced to marry a woman and I'm not and here I am, engaged to a man."

"Oh? You're not?" Itachi smirked. "Then you're not attracted to Naruto at all?" Sasuke nodded firmly, though the question made him uneasy.

"Then you don't stare at him when he's not looking? You don't check him out when he stretches or leans over, when he's wet or topless? You don't feel jealous and angry when someone else looks at him?" Sasuke inwardly scrambled for something to say but was coming up blank.

"And I suppose you don't like to see his smile or enjoy talking to him or worry about him or think about him almost constantly either." Itachi stopped and waited for a response. Unsurprisingly there wasn't one. "If that were the case, I would say that you definitely liked him. Have I been mistaken?"

Sasuke was obviously having a bit of a crisis right now. Is that what was really happening? Wait a minute!

"If I 'do' like him, then it's just as a friend. He said, the day we met, that he wanted to go slow and just be friends and I agreed."

"Really? He explained how he felt the very first day. Hmm, then he's a better man than I was, isn't he. But that has nothing to do with the way you were spacing out, watching him licking a popsicle like nothing else existed." Itachi was given the rare privilege of seeing his little brother blush.

"He just eats things weird," Sasuke grumbled.

"No he doesn't, but he is pretty cute isn't he." Sasuke looked away, folding his arms over his chest petulantly and Itachi smirked a little wider.

"I'm ready Dad!" a fully dressed Takara called out as he came running back out into the yard.

"Alright son, I'm coming," Itachi answered.

"He's a good person Sasuke and he's good for you. He's already made a difference. He's drawn you out and made you do more and talk more and even smile more. He cares about you and I think he'll take care of you forever if you let him. You 'do' like him and you 'are' lucky to have the opportunity for a 'real' relationship with someone like him."

With these parting words, Itachi collected his son and ushered him back through the house, leaving Sasuke alone with the tornado in his mind.



(A/N; Don't even talk to me about my sad poetry skills /or lack thereof, 'cause believe me, I know. And that's about all I know 'cause I certainly don't know anything about writing music. I thought about using an existing song but people all have certain prior associations they've made with any song that they've heard before. I didn't want to change the tone of the scene for anyone, and not putting in anything at all just seemed cheep. But the real issue here is that I 'promised' you Neji in my next update. So I'm giving you a double update! Yay! So keep reading baby. XP

P.S. How many of you saw that coming with Itachi? Come on, show of hands! Heheheh)