Broken Promises

Chapter 12 – Innocence Lost

Authors Notes: Let me start by saying a great big THANK YOU to all of you who feedback. It really does mean a lot to me and it does make me write more. It gives me the urge to write more for you and for more lovely feedback. I am surprised that of all the feedback I’ve gotten. Recently I had to stop and considered if I wanted to continue with the original story plan I had. The answer I came to is yes. So I’m back at it and I hope you enjoy it.

Ecdragon00: Yes, that was a real revelation for Sasuke. He knows he screwed up, he knows he loves Naruto… but there was this part of him that simply believed given time Naruto would, as Naruto does, forgive. Sino & Neji… well I’m not ready to give that away yet.
Saidie237: I’m so glad you got it before going to sleep. I love when that happens. :) Naruto is a comforting presence and extreamly protective… also where Naruto is her ‘big brother Shikamaru’ tends to be. I think Shika has crying Ino radar and possibly allowed Naruto to be in the line of fire. LOL For the record Sakura isn’t forgiven… at least not yet. It struck me as something she’d say, I just couldn’t let it go. Heehee, poor Shika is about to find himself in a rather awkward situation. I’m so mean to him. Thank you for your feedback I love seeing what you think.
KthecChosen1: Thank you! I’m glad you are enjoying it.
BlackMoon: I’m a HUGE fan of groveling… I really am, and Sasuke will do anything for love but he won’t do that! LOL I have part of it mapped out but not the whole way, but I have an idea what needs to happen. I hope you follow with me. I promise to get us there… them there. LOL
Kanazerosakenaru: I admit your feedback made me step back, reread everything and think the entirety of my story. I do not see my Naruto as hypocritical at all. Now it’s not because I think he’s justified in all of his behavior but because right now finding comfort is important. Everyone finds comfort in their own ways… and because of your feedback I added a great deal to this chapter to explain Naruto’s actions and where he’s at in his head. I forget he’s IN my head so I know exactly where he’s coming from but you, the readers do not. Naruto is not being cruel. When you break up with some one, even when you have to see them you still have to move on. The Village is a small community and very insular. There aren’t a lot of places to go where you stand a chance in hell of not running into your ex. Add to that the fact that they work together and are on the same team. Would you expect Naruto to never move on and be alone if he didn’t decide to take Sasuke back? The best way I can describe it is high school… it sounds crazy but when you’re in high school you are a part of a small close nit community, especially within your own year. Say you share classes with your ex, because you share a lunch period or a class, because you will have to see that person daily and vice versa did that mean you or they could not have other relationships? Of course not. Was it cruel or malicious? Hopefully not. No they aren’t teenagers but they are forced with the same predicament. It’s been over three months since they split up. I hope that explains better where my Naruto in this fic is coming from and what is happening. And I hope you keep reading.
Smint45: And more you shall have. Hope you like it!
MissBubbly: Ha! It always tickles me pink when an author I like gives me feedback. It makes me feel rather giddy. So I totally understand! I’m so glad you like it! I’m quite honored cause I really liked your start and I can’t wait for more of that. LOL When my husband gets cranky with me or looks at me like I’ve lost my mind I just smile and tell him I’m happy and shut it. ;0)
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Two days of dancing around the subject of their relationship, Naruto and Shikamaru simply allowed themselves to fall back into their natural rhythm. The brunette returned to work in Hokage tower and Naruto returned to the training field with Kiba. Neji was scarce suddenly and Naruto was pretty sure he knew why. After he and Kiba knocked each other around until exhausted they return to the house, clean up and either go get food or loaf around the house eating what could be found and playing video games until Shikamaru showed up and Kiba took off. Another thing Naruto noticed, their friends tended to disappear for a couple of house after Shikamaru got home. Day seven had reached the end of the Nara’s patients and he sat on the counter in his kitchen thinking, he was mapping out a plan in his head ensuring he would win this battle, and he was fairly sure it would be a battle. He was still there when Naruto entered the kitchen heading for a bottle of cold tea. Grabbing it he turned and jumped a little.

“Shika? What the hell are you doing lurking in the kitchen? When did you get home?” Naruto waited for a response and when none was forth coming he got worried. He knew his friend could become silent and spend hours sometimes days alone if he felt responsible for the loss of a shinobi life. Moving over he set the tea on the counter next to Shikamaru’s thigh and stepped up tilting his head up a tanned finger under the other man’s chin. “Did something happen?”

“No.” He snorted rolling his eyes and letting out a long sigh.

Cocking his head to the side like a confused fox Naruto frowned. “Then what’s the problem?”

“That IS the problem Naruto.” His legs slid open and Naruto fell forward just enough to be nestled between his thighs. “Nothing keeps happening.” The shadow nin pulled the blond in by his shirt and kissed him demandingly. Then moaned as Naruto deepened the kiss in a way he hadn’t since they’d returned from The Sand. When the kiss broke brown eyes searched blue, “I want… I need more and you’ve been teasing me, leaving me wanting for two months Naruto.” He swallowed because he hated trying to strategize where Naruto was concerned. The blond was too much of a wildcard. He would either do exactly what you wanted or something you hadn’t even thought of and Shikamaru never knew which because the Dobe had the most bizarre triggers.

Sighing Naruto pressed his forehead to Shikamaru’s shoulder. He needed to get a grip on himself. Gaara got it, Gaara had always understood even before Naruto had put it into words. But he had no desire to treat Shikamaru the same way or to hurt his friend. He’d grown to rely on the other man’s friendship far too much. “Shika… I can’t lose you. I can’t give you all of me and that would hurt you. Please don’t ask me to hurt you like that.” The words came out rough as if they’d been scraped over gravel on their way out of Naruto’s throat.

“But you can do that to... with Gaara?” He whispered hurt evident in his voice.

“Gaara understands Shika. There are something… we both need that no one else understands. I wonder now if Sasuke even understood. If he’d understood I’d like to think he’d never have done what he did.” Naruto closed his eyes sighing. It was the first time since breaking up with Sasuke he’d even said the other man’s given name and saying it, hearing it felt healing and at the same time created an ache he knew would always be there now.

Shikamaru glared and when he felt Naruto moving away he wrapped those strong long legs of his around Naruto’s hips. “So explain it to me, Uzumaki. Make me understand… you’re never going to believe this but I’m pretty fucking clever I might surprise you.” Leaning up he kissed down Naruto’s jaw with the sort of tenderness Naruto hadn’t felt in far too long.

His will was weakening and he knew he couldn’t deny the other man the chance to understand and run. At least then perhaps the friendship could be salvaged. He’d grown to love his new life, the void left by losing Sasuke remained but another part of him was full to brimming a part he hadn’t even realized was empty before. So many people loved him, cared for him, came to him in times of trouble and it felt wonderful. He loved his days training with Kiba, Neji and even Shino. He loved being forced to watch movies with the girls secretly hoping for a chick flick night verses those gross movies they liked to inflict on him regularly. But his time with Shikamaru was best, making the other boy laugh and relax, getting him to watch mindless TV dramas or quiet morning breakfasts where they talked about almost every topic. Shikamaru would let Naruto talk all he wanted he never told him to quiet down or try silence for a while. He seemed amused most of the time and when Naruto would talk he knew Shikamaru listened because occasionally he’d sit up and make Naruto repeat and explain himself usually with awe in his voice. He’d once said he’d love to spend a day in Naruto’s head trying to figure out how it worked the way it did.

“Before Sasuke, Gaara and I were friends and it developed into something more. We both had fairly bad childhoods. Out of respect I won’t go into too much detail of Gaara’s but I rarely had a kind word or gentle hand given to me. I got my first hug from Iruka-sensei.” Naruto swallowed he hadn’t expected this to be this hard. “The old man was good to me, don’t get me wrong he did much better by me then I think I did by him. He made sure I had a place to live, went to school and could take care of myself. I had a hard time at the orphanage and after a particularly nasty run in with some older kids he got me the apartment.” Confusion clouded Shikamaru’s face he knew about Naruto’s childhood but he hadn’t realized how little he really knew. “So Gaara was like me and we weren’t scared of each other our demons weren’t best friends but we kind of liked that they hated us being friends.” A bright smile flashed. This earned him a small chuckle from the Nara heir. “It really started because Gaara didn’t sleep. Somehow he kept ending up on my rooftop when they were here and it made it hard for me to sleep cause I could just feel him up there. He told me about his nightmares about how hard it was to control Shikaku. Finally I went up and told him I had to sleep I was not nocturnal like the raccoons he took after and dragged him to my apartment. Believe it or not I was so tired and grumpy I divested him of his gourd and dragged him into bed after taking his sandals off. He was in that black shirt and pants at the time so no fucking buckles to deal with. Anyway, into bed and I held him all night and when I woke in the morning he was still there, curled in a ball sleeping soundly. He told me it was the first time he’d slept more than two hours in a row. The rest of that visit he slept with me. Every time he came back he slept with me. Then I went with Pervy-sage and when I came back and he showed up as Kazekage. I couldn’t get over how good he looked. Pervy-sage had shown and taught me a lot and most of it was not about being a ninja.” Naruto laughed shaking his head a little at those adventures. “Evidentially he felt the same.”

“You did come back like two foot taller and kind of built. It was a little shocking, Ino kept going on about how hot you’d gotten and when Shino agreed I had to check for myself.” Shikamaru interrupted with his own laugh.

Rolling his eyes Naruto sighed. “That first night back he came to my place just before bed and as usual we slept together in the morning my appreciation of him was more than evident. Usually I wake up and it goes away, you know I can will it away pretty easily.” That explained one issue Shikamaru had been having, it was apparently another perk to being Naruto Uzumaki. “But just as I started to get things under control Gaara started fucking wriggling, I swear I still think he did it on purpose. I was way too young to really control myself and when he woke feeling me pressing against his ass like that… I’m sure you can guess where things went. Neither of us had ever had sex before.” He swallowed whispering. “No one else would touch us. Hell for the longest time the only physical contact got was sparring with my teammates. We built bonds and things got easier but hugs and sitting close to someone was amazing to me, and then I had sex.” He scratched the back of his head. “For that whole week we kind of got lost in each other. Touching and being touched, feeling so good in a way we’d never felt before. I think it was worse for Gaara. His brother and sister loved him but even they were afraid of him… he told me that because of the abuse he suffered he never took his sand armor off so he couldn’t feel someone touching him.” He felt so bad for his friend. He’d suffered a lot at the hands of the villagers he so valiantly fought to protect but nothing like Gaara. “It just continued that way. I helped him learn to build a cage in his mind for Shikaku and we got Ero-Senin to agree to help seal Shikaku in it. So we were together a lot. I was either there with him or he was here with me. It always felt good. We both loved it and we love each other now but it wasn’t a relationship. Neither of us asked for anything more than we had to give. Gaara wasn’t ready at the time and we both knew it wouldn’t work beyond what we had. He is Kazekage and he earned that with his own blood not that of others and I had my own goal and dream. Gaara would never ask me to give that up to follow him or be with him.”

“You said he wasn’t ready. Is he ready now? Are you reconsidering moving to the Sand? To get away from Sasuke? You seemed content there. And you were pretty popular.” Shikamaru put his arms over Naruto’s shoulder almost worried if the answer were yes he’d leave in a poof of smoke.

“First off, yes he is ready… very ready. IN fact he likes someone a lot. They’ve been getting closer when I wasn’t even looking.” He sighed grinning. “I’m still not sure how it will work out, because it’s another Leaf Shinobi and he’s very important to his clan.” Cocking his head to the side Shikamaru racked his brain to think of anyone the Kazekage spent time with when he was in town and other then Naruto he couldn’t think of a single one. Most were still put off by the whole sand coffin thing, it was less Shikaku and more the fact that Gaara had control of magic death sand. “As for moving, hell no. This might not be easy for Sasuke or for me but I’m not running away. THIS is my home and my village as much as it is his and I can’t be Hokage from a giant desert. Popular yes and no… it is for me there like it is for Gaara here. People take to me better in a place where they haven’t spent my whole life loathing my existence… and they think I’m pretty.”

“You’re not pretty Naru, you’re fucking gorgeous but I would never call you pretty. You’re handsome… masculine and animalistic but never pretty.” Shikamaru’s eyes darkened again. “So you can’t be with me because you belong to Sasuke… and you can have sex with Gaara because he accepts the limitations of your heart?” He sighed when Naruto nodded. “I’m sorry. That’s bull shit.” This time Shikamaru pulled Naruto’s face up and kissed him soundly. “I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m asking you to fuck me. I’m attracted to you. The truth, I like someone else too. Right now I like you a lot more… and I trust you and I’m enjoying what we have. I don’t know where this will go, if it will even go beyond that.” He scratches his nails through Naruto’s hair knowing it turned the blond to jello. “But right now, I’m tired of jerking off twice a day in the shower or bathroom or even the fucking woods when things get heated and you pull away from me.” Just to drive his point home Shikamaru rolled his hips forward.

Naruto tried to swallow his growl but failed and pressed his own hips forward. “Dirty rotten cheat. You cheat at fucking everything Shika.” His mind filled with incredibly erotic images of Shikamaru jerking off and his eyes flashed for just a moment as he fought desire and lost. “I’m a possessive bastard. Ask Gaara, while you’re mine. You’re mine Shika.” Fingers gripped the narrow hips of the Nara as if to drive the words home. “There are others interested in you and until you tell me you’re interested in someone else the way you are with me I won’t be with another and I might physically damage any one you’re with. And for the record I will smell it on you, that is how I knew what had happened between Sasuke and Sakura.” Shikamaru cocked his head and nodded after a moment. Naruto rarely spoke of what had occurred between his lover and their friend and had never told how he discovered what they’d done. With his Kyuubi heightened senses it made sense though.

“I don’t cheat. I promise Naruto if I change my mind, decide to pursue something with someone else I will tell you.” Shikamaru leaned in and pressed soft kisses to each of Naruto’s whisker scars, turning Naruto’s face to reach both sides.

Naruto crumbled all resistance leaving him as he felt the sweet kisses. He growled as he took Shikamaru’s lips. He claimed him deepening the kiss and began licking and biting at the pointed jaw, making his way down to the long neck. He grinned when Shikamaru shuddered as Naruto bit the place where shoulder and neck met. Then he bit harder and sucked, leaving his mark on the other man. The shadow ninja pulled at Naruto’s shirt divesting him of it and then stripped his own. He gasped head falling back as the jinjuriki’s mouth found his nipples, he’d never know they were so very sensitive. He ached in his overly tight pants. He started rocking against Naruto, hands back on the counter as he tried to pull Naruto over him using only his legs.

“Shika, I’m not fucking you on the kitchen counter… at least on your first time.” He face a wolfish grin that made Shikamaru shudder. “Maybe later.” He actually picked the other man up then set him on his feet and dragged him to the bedroom. Naruto smirked pushing the brunette to the bed he stripped them both and crawled up the thin body of his bedmate. Hot wet kisses over the other man’s thighs, moving slowly in. He lapped at Shikamaru’s sack learning his taste and smell, imprinting it in his mind.

“Ahh, Naru… please, please…” He swallowed whimpering a little.” He bit his lip and suddenly sat up and ripped the table drawer open and dragged the bottle of lubricant out tossing it on the bed before leaning back again. Naruto was looking at him with a raised brow. “Shut up… I have it for jerking off… I was starting to chafe because there’s a blond cock tease living with me.” Blue eyes darkened for a moment and then Shikamaru thudded back on the mattress. “Fucking yes, yes Naru please.” Who knew he’d be such a begger? He’d had head before but never like this, never so actively enjoyed or knowledgeably done. Arching up the Narra’s legs bent then fell open when Naruto’s throat closed over the weeping head of his dick. “I’m gonna cum Naru… please I don’t… not yet. Please.” He fisted his hands in the sheets and bucked so close.

Naruto backed off changing the suction and rhythm he used. He picked the lube up and clicking the cap he rubbed some between his fingers warming it, adding more and warming it as well. Finally satisfied he moved a single finger to circle the puckered opening so trustingly displayed. He stilled when he felt the Nara tense, then continued circling his finger around the hole until Shikamaru relaxed. He carefully pressed the finger into the relaxed body waiting when he tensed again. He started sucking on Shikamaru’s cock again and waited until he relaxed once more before pressing his finger in. He heard the grunt and hiss as he slid the finger in and out, letting him adjust to the feeling. Finally Shikamaru relaxed further and Naruto pressed a second well lubed finger in with the first. “Shhh, it’s ok Shika… relax Baby.” He started sucking faster knowing Shikamaru was still hurting from the intrusion. Once his fingers began moving more easily he twisted them in and out and grinned when the body beneath him shivered in pleasure. Licking at the cock head he felt around and smiled when the felt the bundle of nerves then gently rubbed over it.

“OH GOD! NARUTO!” His hips bucked and he felt his partner chuckle around his dick which added a new sensation to all of the others overloading his senses. “fuck fuck fuck ok ok… I can’t wait, I’m gonna… oh SHIT WHAT IS THAT! God YES.” His eyes started to roll back and then a third finger joined the first two and made his head fall to the side whimpering. It stung, made him ache and tremble all at the same time. It was too much he felt overwhelmed. “Please. Please Naruto… please I need… more… more, please.” He knew what he was asking for but couldn’t put the right words together his brain had decided to take a vacation. The fingers left him and Shikamaru looked up feeling suddenly empty and that feeling drug a whimper from him. “Noo. No please… don’t stop.” He was panting looking up his eyes glazed with need.

Naruto looked down and felt his stomach tighten with need. This was a new look, he’d never received such a look. Gaara was uke but equal, he warred with Naruto, even in bed. Sasuke was entirely seme even when he wasn’t. But Shikamaru was something entirely different, trusting and needy it brought to surface all of Naruto’s best traits. He wanted to please the man under him and part of him wanted to know that every man who came after him would have come after him. Shikamaru would never forget this. He lubed himself ensuring he was coated more then he needed to be, he had no desire to dominate or cause Shikamaru any pain. Pulling the lean legs over his shoulder to get a better angle Naruto positioned himself and then pressed the head of his own cock into the trembling body on the mattress. He swallowed fighting every instinct to push himself balls deep into the still tight opening. He knew he’d stretched Shikamaru as best as he could but the first time still hurt and so he waited until he was trembling as well. Only then when Shikmaru had finally started to relax did he move sliding in to the hilt and then back out. Twice more before he felt Shikamaru groan in pleasure. Leaning down he curled Shikamaru into a ball and kissed him deeply. Moving slowly with purpose he grinned when Shikamaru clenched and his eyes rolled back. There it was. Pleased he started moving in earnest, his hips beginning to pick up tempo. Skin slapping against skin. He watched Shikamaru getting lost in the feelings Naruto was inspiring. The pony tailed man was so beautiful and noisy. It made Naruto smile loving that he was the one making the usually calm ninja lose his cool. He felt his balls tighten and the tingle in his spine. Quickly he reached down and began stroking the warm leaking shaft of his bedmate. Three strokes was all it took before Shikamaru came apart at his seems. Naruto got less before he too tumbled into orgasmic oblivion. Both fell asleep sweaty, sticky and wrapped in one another.

Naruto woke in the middle of the night staring at the man draped over his chest. Sex with Gaara was healing, reminded him he could feel was needed that he would always have his constant anchor in his close friend and some time lover. Shikamaru gave him something entirely different. Shikamaru made him feel attractive again, wanted , and desired. He’d almost forgotten that feeling. Some part of him had been secretly convinced Sasuke had strayed because of flaws in him. Scars littered his body from the numerous times he’d put himself in front of blades or needles to save a comrade. His ability to heal so much faster than others meant he gave little thought to putting himself between a friend and dangerous objects that might kill. The seal mark that was still jet black against his tanned abs sometimes felt like the worse scar of all. Even his hair, eyes, whisker scarred face and stout body. He was loud and not nearly as neat or cultured as his partner had been. He frequently broke things in their near sterile home and he snored. His mind had instantly conjured a list of flaws and reasons Sasuke would want someone else. None of these things bothered Shikamaru, he seemed to find them endearing as a part of him. Desired and accepted by a partner something he’d found in Sasuke’s arms and lost. When he’d lost it he’d lost a part of himself.

In the morning they showered together and parted ways without any awkwardness. Sasuke was making his way to Hokage tower for a mission when he spotted the Nara brat. Instantly his eyes narrowed while it wasn’t obvious he could tell he was walking with a jar of pain. His eyes trailed up to his neck and shoulder and when Shikamaru stuffed his hands into his pockets the pink-red love bit was just visible above his collar. Sasuke fought the urge to be sick in the street and to pull his sword to do away with the bastard who’d so obviously moved to lover in Naruto’s life. Grinding his teeth he didn’t even battle as the sharingon spun. It allowed him to notice Neji Hyuuga watching with the same mask eyes blazing with fury. He filed that away as a potential ally. This was the final straw. He wouldn’t stand by and wait any more, he couldn’t. He loved Naruto and Naruto was his, they belonged together and no matter what it took he would prove that to the blond Dobe. If it killed him he would prove his love to Naruto and he would get his chance to apologize.

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So this was NOT the original ending to this chapter but Sasuke wouldn’t shut it and wait until the next. That paragraph was meant to be the beginning of the next chapter. Fucking Uchiha’s… so bossy.