In the cold of space you find the heat of suns

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.

12. Friends

“We’re going to Tarrasade?” Sasuke queried when Iruka announced the unexpected change in route.

“What’s special about Tarrasade?” Naruto asked, wondering while Sasuke did not want to go there.

“It’s the most important trading centre in the Inner Fringe.” Iruka told him.

“It Tarrasade.” Genma grabbed Shikamaru and began waltzing about the crew room. “The jewel of the Fringe, the destination of dreams.” He smiled at Naruto. “You are in for a treat, Foxy. Your first time in Tarrasade is special.” He looked at Iruka. “Tell me we are going to rent a unit and have some time off the ship. Tell me we are going to be able to go to some clubs and dance.”

Iruka smiled. “That is the plan.”

Ibiki looked to Kakashi. “And the risk of challenge?”

Kakashi shrugged. “Tarrasade is as civilised as a space station gets and we have to accept that Sasuke looks the way he does. It certainly isn’t getting better as he gets older.”

Naruto enjoyed watching Sasuke trying to cover his embarrassment with a scowl.

Tarrasade was wonderful, but a little overwhelming for someone with foxy senses. Naruto was glad that the unit was so spacious and peaceful.

“When did we decide to spend this much on accommodation?” Genma asked. “I thought we had a limit.”

“I won three days rent of it in a bet,” Tsunade told them. She stalked into the inner of the two central areas and opened a door. “This is mine. Iruka will decide where you all are sleeping.”

Naruto and Sasuke ended up on cots in the room Iruka and Kakashi were sharing. Kakashi pointed to one of the cots. “That’s yours, Sasuke. You will always sleep there. Naruto, I will need to know where you are sleeping on a night-by-night basis.”

“What was that about?” Naruto asked as he and Sasuke unpacked their things into the smaller of the two closets.

“Raids.” Sasuke explained. “When another crew tries to steal the cat and holds it for ransom. It’s not quite like a challenge, more like a game.”

Naruto thought Sasuke had paled too much for it to be only a game. “And?” he asked.

“The raiding crew get to use the cat while they have him.” Sasuke admitted.

Naruto resolved to sleep in his cot. No strange crew was going to ‘use’ Sasuke. “As it they could get past Kakashi.”

“Dobe.” Sasuke muttered, but he relaxed and a touch of colour returned to his skin.

“Teme.” Naruto replied.

Shopping was novel. Naruto had yet to decide if it were fun. Genma loved it, Shikamaru was interested and even Ibiki seemed to enjoy it. Iruka was in his element, focused and ruthless as he bartered. Jiraiya and Tsunade had decided to stay in the unit. Sasuke looked bored. Kakashi seemed disinterested and relaxed, but Naruto knew better. It was amazing that he could be so alert and lethal on the inside while appearing so harmless.

The clothes store was best. The idea was that everyone would buy at least one new garment to wear when they went clubbing. Iruka also wanted some plainer clothes for Naruto, who had grown out of everything he had been wearing. Naruto had never had new clothes bought for him. Iruka was trying to explain about outfits and why wearing many different shades of orange together was bad. Genma had taken responsibility for choosing Sasuke’s party clothes because Sasuke refused to show interest. Shikamaru had picked out a jacket that fit him perfectly and was worrying about the price.

Naruto had fallen in love with an orange shirt. Iruka found black trousers and a black jacket for him to wear with it. Once everything was on the counter Iruka started to negotiate. Kakashi and Ibiki conversed in low voices, the outcome of which was that Ibiki and Genma would continue shopping while the others went to the cobbler’s.

The cobbler’s was interesting. Naruto only knew about two types of boots. There were the ones you bought made, which didn’t fit, and the ones someone made by hand, which fitted perfectly but cost too much. In Tarrasade you could buy a third type of boot, which was made by a machine while you waited. Iruka bought him and Sasuke two pairs each, even though Naruto would probably grow out of them within a few divisions. Iruka often complained that growth spurts weren’t meant to be continuous.

By the time they arrived back at the unit Genma and Ibiki had returned with boxes of cooked food from the market and a plan for the evening. The Captain and Jiraiya were out, but Kakashi did not seem worried so Naruto guessed they were fine. The plan was to eat, clean up, dress and go dancing.

Iruka and Kakashi were having a quick fuck, so Naruto and Sasuke got ready in the main room. Genma insisted on painting their faces: he had already done his own and Shikamaru’s. Naruto’s face in the mirror was even foxier than usual, which was fun but he was less sure about what Genma had done to Sasuke. His hair was different. His face was beautiful. His eyes were glorious. He was wearing a white silk shirt. The shirt was loose and drew the eye to his neck and his wrists. Naruto could see one collarbone. Naruto’s throat closed and he was glad he had his jacket to camouflage his erection.

Then Kakashi was there. He asked Genma if he had lost his mind and yanked Sasuke into the bedroom. The Sasuke who emerged was quirky rather than beautiful. His face was painted white, with blue eyes and lips. There were blue streaks in his hair. He was dressed in black with enough accessories to detract from his shape. Genma shrugged and smiled, not at Sasuke but at Naruto. Naruto felt himself blushing.

At the club Naruto discovered that he loved dancing and Sasuke discovered that he loved watching Naruto dance.

They tumbled through the door of the unit in the early hours to find Tsunade and Jiraiya having a drinking contest that the Captain was close to winning. They cheered as Jiraiya passed out. Tsunade stood and bowed, then walked carefully toward her room. At the door she steadied herself on the doorframe and turned.

“A visitor is coming this afternoon. Sasuke, I need to you to get me up by noon. Iruka, my apologies, but I need you, Jiraiya, Shikamaru, Genma and Ibiki to be elsewhere.”

“Not Naruto?” Kakashi asked.

Tsunade shut her eyes for a moment. “No, Naruto stays. He wants to meet Naruto.”

Naruto saw their reaction; the way Iruka bit his lip and how Sasuke was suddenly small. Kakashi was too still. They left Genma, Ibiki and Shikamaru drinking in the main room. Later, from his cot, Naruto thought he heard Iruka weeping. His fox eyes could see Sasuke awake, looking at him.

“Sasuke?” he whispered.

“Not now, Naruto.” Sasuke answered.

Sasuke waited for Naruto to sleep, then slid from his cot and crept into the bathroom. He had suspected the worst when Iruka had told them of the sudden change in itinerary but neither the Captain or Kakashi had said anything and Sasuke had allowed himself, for today, to forget. He found himself leaning his cheek against the cool surface of a tiled wall. He felt sick. In less than a day Naruto would be dead. There was a small chance Kakashi would live, but Sasuke would not see him for a long time, perhaps never.

He did not know if he could bear to lose them.

Logic told him to give up on saving Naruto and concentrate on increasing Kakashi’s chances of survival. In Hiruzen-sama’s eyes, Kakashi had value while Naruto had none.

He could not bear to lose Naruto.

The admission helped. He began to think. He needed to increase Naruto’s value in Hiruzen-sama’s eyes. He needed to make Naruto as valuable as Kakashi: then they both would have a chance. Kakashi’s eye made him rare, but there were others with implants. One thing made him close to unique. The few others, save possibly one, had died on that day.

Kakashi would have it with him. It would be in his lockbox.

Sasuke needed a plan.