Colors

* Hiya. I love you guys. Here’s another chappie and a warning that it’s full of thought processing. Hope it doesn’t put you guys off too much. I’m again just writing whatever my mind conjures up during the spur of the moment. Also, thanks sadistickiss for the tip on double spacing. I’ve made the read a little easier on the eyes so that you won’t have to squint so hard. Apologies for not having thought about that earlier. Special thanks again to splitpersona for pointing out those spelling errors. I reread the piece and noted some pretty awful ones and you’re right, it was a turn off. I’ve fixed them now.

Anyway, here goes.

Cheers

*Additional : In my sleepy state I think I must have been writing with my eyes closed. Spotted some odd choice of words and spelling errors. Edited.

*Additional : For some strange reason chap 13 is cursed. I've fixed the texts again.

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Chapter 13

Naruto sat on the verandah outside his room which overlooked a quaint indoor garden. He was tired. It had been a long day of travel combined with the grueling task of having to setup all their equipment quickly before the race organizers closed the circuit for the day. Clad in his yukata, he was resting in a nearby ryokan owned by the Hyuuga family.

A small warm breeze blew past, tickling his sunshine locks as he admired the little plants and mystical rock arrangements. He sipped on an ice-cold beer - the cool feeling down his throat was a welcomed relief in the increasingly warmer weather of summer around the corner. He briefly wondered how much the heat would be as a menace to the race and its conditions. He then decided that he’d better remind Kiba to keep a close watch on the temperature readings tomorrow during the practice laps.

Naruto was trying hard to keep his mind away from the Uchiha and his earlier message. He tried to think up of anything else about the race he needed to take note off but failed. As he lied down on his back and stared into the clear night sky, he remembered Shikamaru’s paled expression earlier.

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“Shika, what the fuck you look like you’ve just seen a ghost. What’s up?” Naruto had caught Shikamaru’s troubled face just as he was reeling some cables and placing them next to the servers that would be used to process information about the car’s performance.

Shikamaru took in a deep breath and stopped his mind from wondering about 1001 ways Naruto and Sasuke would end up in a crash. He then spoke, “Sigh…. Now…. Don’t go freaking out and stay calm.”

“What?!” Naruto looked displeased, irritated with Shika’s tone.

“Just tell me quick.” He placed his arms to rest on his hips.

“The fucking prick is in pit 6.”

“You mean Rock Lee?”

“No… I mean the OTHER prick.”

“Shika, stop with the beating around the bush and just say it.”

“He means Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto,” Neji finally answered from his position.

Naruto stared at Shika and his friend looked back, watching closely for any reaction from him. Seconds later Naruto broke out in a run.

“Don’t do anything stupid!! Sigh… so much for staying calm.” Shikamaru said to Naruto’s back.

Naruto ran like he had never run in his life. His heart was racing almost painfully as he gave into his instincts and his craving to confirm the Uchiha’s attendance. Suddenly his phone started beeping in his pocket. He slowed to a fast walk as he lifted his cell out to see who had messaged him. He halted his steps as he didn’t recognize the number and feared it would be one of his high profile clients. He decided that the Uchiha couldn’t wander very far and read the message he had received.

“Naruto, its Sasuke.” Naruto’s eyes widened.

“Can’t explain but am being watched. Pls don’t come to my paddock. U might b in danger. Don’t call either. Will b in touch later. Sry.”

Naruto had never been so overwrought in his life. Paddock 6 was just two paddocks away from where he stood, but he fought the strong urge to go, the urge even stronger now that Sasuke had sent him such a disturbing message. He stopped in his tracks panting, trying hard to make his body move. *What the fuck is going on?*

“Excuse me, are you looking for someone?” A passerby from the nearby paddock asked. Naruto turned to look at where the voice had come from and noticed a worried look on the man’s face. “Are you alright?”

“Err.. Yeah.. yeah, don’t worry about it. Sorry.”
Against his will, he turned his back in the opposite direction and headed back to his paddock and all the while he had his fists clenched tightly.

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“Can I come in?” Neji’s voice brought Naruto’s troubled self back to the verandah.

“Sure, why not?” He sat up and smiled at his friend.

“Thought I’d join you for a beer.”

“Where’s Shika and the rest?”

“All going to catch some shut-eye. Its late you know but then again, I knew you’d be awake so I decided to accompany you.” Neji flicked open the can.

“Cheers,” They put their cans together for a clink before taking generous gulps of the alcohol.

“Still thinking about earlier?”

“Yeah…”

“I wouldn’t blame you, especially not for a message like that.”

“Tell me about it. I can’t even ask or speak to him or anything. Shika’s right it does fucking suck to be on the waiting end.”

“If it’s any consolation, him sending you a message only shows how worried he is for you.”

“I don’t know…really, any person in their right mind would inform someone else if they knew he was in for a death trap… Hmpf, at his point, I don’t know what to think anymore. This past month has just been a fucking whirlwind and I’m about THIS close to picking up my brush and painting something.” Naruto said whilst gesturing to show a few millimeters of space between his index finger and thumb.

Neji took another sip of his beer. What Naruto had just said really bothered him. It brought back memories of the days where Naruto had attempted to paint with his own blood and it scared him. He briefly remembered the image and shock of finding Naruto painting spirals with his bloodied hand on the walls in his loft one day when he’d been missing from classes.

“Naruto, I know it’s difficult but try not to stress and don’t be so hard on yourself. I know you feel helpless and edgy but there’s really nothing you can do about it. But I feel that the Uchiha, being the Uchiha he is, will contact you if he says he will so just stick to that for now.”

“I suppose you’re right. … Sigh..Come on, lets bottoms up these and just sleep. If I don’t sleep I’ll be forced to chew down Rock Lee’s 53 second lap times while I snail around the 56 seconds.”

The two laughed lightly at each other before downing their drinks.

As Neji stood up to leave, he smiled at Naruto, “I know I shouldn’t be offering but you need me around tonight?”

“Nah Neji, I’ll be alright so stop being a perv.” Neji was comforted with the reply as he still noticed a glimmer in Naruto’s eyes, a sign that his friend was still himself.

“Have a good fucking night Naruto.”

“Hehe, nights.” With that Neji left Naruto alone to switch off the lights and tuck himself into his futon. He closed his eyes and started drifting off to sleep, his body exhausted from the day’s events.

Suddenly, his phone started ringing. Naruto’s eyes flew open and he scrambled for the phone by his side. He recognized the unidentified number and his heart pounded as he bolted upright and pressed the answer button.

“Hello?!”

“Naruto.. its me.” Sasuke said in a hushed whisper.

“Why the fuck are you whispering?”

“I told you I’m being watched.”

“Fuck Sasuke, you know you’re freaking the shits out of me.”

“I know and I’m sorry… there’s… there’s really so much for me to explain but I just can’t now. I’d rather do it when I see you.”

“Why can’t you just tell me now?”

“Cause if I talk too loud my brother’s bodyguard will pick up the conversation from outside my room. Anyway, just don’t call me or come near the paddock.”

“Sasuke, who’s after me?”

“I told you, I’ll explain later.”

“Its your brother.. isn’t it.”

“Naruto, I..sigh… I can’t. I’ll call you again later.”

“Sasu…” Sasuke had hung-up.

“Fuck…” Naruto spat and stared at his phone. He had never before exercised so much determination to avoid picking up his phone and calling or messaging Sasuke back right away. *It has to be his freaking brother. But what the fuck does the brother want with me? What the fuck did I do? Damn it those fucking Uchiha’s are scary.* But no matter how agitated or frustrated he was, he couldn’t help but feel fearful for Sasuke’s safety. He wanted so much to call him back and beg him to tell what was it that had him imprisoned. He wanted to see him and he had the unexplainable need to hold Sasuke in his arms.

He flopped back onto his futon with thousands of questions and assumptions swimming in his head. As he frantically scanned through various memories and replayed them, his mind came across Sasuke during his school days. He then realized that the dark prince had always been unusual and distant in his mannerism. He’d always acted snobbish and shunned off all contact. If anyone came too close he’d push them away and Naruto being the most persistent and determined of the lot to break Sasuke’s high and mighty wall down, was the one who faced the most ill treatment of all.

He never understood how it was that Sasuke still garnered undivided attention despite him wanting to steer clear away from everyone whilst Naruto suffered the opposite fate of being shunned despite wanting to be everyone’s friend. The thought awakened even further buried emotions of Sasuke’s departure and Naruto was once again fearful that Sasuke might leave him for good.

He hated to admit it, but Sasuke gave him determination and purpose to keep striving for the better. Before meeting his dark angel, Naruto had been lost in his therapy sessions, not knowing why he was brought to this world only to be tortured with the conscience of helping with his mother’s death, thus making him label himself as a total good for nothing and part murderer like how the rest of society knew him.

But all that changed when he met Sasuke. His rival was hard to reach but he was something worth pursuing and Naruto felt that if he could even be a fraction closer to achieving what his rival accomplished, he would be able to vanquish his dirty past. However, Naruto wasn’t able to comprehend how or when exactly his pursuit of Sasuke had turned into what he felt now, a compelling need to have him by his side constantly. Perhaps it had always been there but he never could let himself view it that way. Being gay was wrong, was it not?

He closed his eyes and wondered of all people, why he had to encounter the lone wolf again. *I’m crazy… I’m not even involved with the bastard… what the fuck am I fucking afraid of?* “Oh Gods Sasuke… what have you done to me?” he whispered to himself and all Naruto knew was that the birds had begun chirping when he finally started to drift off to sleep.

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The next morning Naruto found himself slouching in a chair at the paddock, dreadfully lack of sleep. His mind was no longer capable of thought and he stared out into the pit lane.

“Naruto looks like he got punched in both eyes.” Hinata spoke softly to Kiba.

The 3 men looked at their driver and each began calculating the amount of damage he would cause the car even before the race began on Saturday. They sighed in unison and all of them wondered if Naruto would eventually participate in the race if his brooding continued.

“Maybe he’ll pass out before his turn for the practice run.” Shika said to Neji.

“I doubt it, he looks zombified but I think he’ll still pick himself up when it’s his turn. You know how fucking crazy he can get like this.”

“Naruto, why don’t you just go to the back and sleep?” Naruto turned to look at Kiba and his friend let out a small yelp from his ghostly appearance.

“God Naruto just go and sleep please?”

“Can’t… need… to… make sure… engine’s tuned.”

“We’ll do the tests. Just please go get some sleep before you give us more work later on.”

Kiba noticed the rest of their crew observing the two of them carefully. The whole team was anxious with their driver’s state and in the racing scene, if the car didn’t perform well, the team would look bad and Naruto being known for having achieved one of the best laps in Tsukuba circuit previously couldn’t afford to damage his reputation or the team’s. He eventually obeyed Kiba and stumbled off to the paddock’s snacking area, sat in a chair, folded his arms on the table and plunked his head onto them. Shortly after, his friends breathed a sigh of relief as soft snores radiated from the blonde.

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Sasuke revved the engine of his car as his team closely monitored the temperature. The day was warm and they were currently taking readings to ensure that his Fairlady was running well under the severe conditions. After gaining a thumbs-up from his team mate, he left his engine on to further warm up but got out of his car to watch the race monitors. The practice sessions were just starting and he was eager to see how the other racers were fairing.

Rock Lee, the first on the track was taking his first warm up lap in his green Silvia. He let the car cruise and shifted the steering from side to side a little to warm the tires further. After passing the marker to begin his second lap, he picked up his pace, attacking a few of the corners with late breaking to see just how much battering his gear shifting could take. He made the hair pin turn and as he exited it, he shifted his gears quickly and floored the vehicle for the long straight. His team signaled that they were ready to time his next lap and he raced through the wide bend corner and sped across the starting straight.

Sasuke watched Rock Lee’s performance on the monitors. His driving was experienced but his turns were hardly clean and he attacked the corners, brutally murdering his tires in the process. Sasuke wondered if that was at all a wise move considering the conditions of the early summer heat, which only served to wear out tires at a faster rate. He watched as Lee locked his tires slightly whilst trying to exit out of the second hair pin and he thought inwardly that he must have under-steered to a certain extent, something he should watch out for. Finally Lee was moving out of the wide bend and down the finishing straight. The time was taken and flashed on the monitors, 54.38 seconds, which wasn’t too bad considering the way it looked.

With that, the practice sessions were well underway with Sasori the first to breach the 53 second mark with 53.90 and Gaara close with a 53.98 both driving Fairladies which gave Sasuke a pretty good idea of how he would do. It was finally his turn and he zipped himself up and buckled the collar of his dark blue fire-proof suit before putting on his helmet and conducting a radio check. He then entered his vehicle, revving the latest Fairlady Nizmo Z engine as he steered it out of the paddock and into the pit lanes, his sleek midnight blue ride drawing attention from the other teams as it passed by.

*I wonder how Naruto… fuck.. I can’t wonder. Come on Sasuke focus.* He was trying hard not to think about the blonde whilst he swung his vehicle from side to side to heat the tires up. But it was proving to be a challenging task. He questioned his action in calling Naruto and his weakness for having given into his desire to hear his voice. But while he was alone in his dark hotel room, he couldn’t wipe away the pain, the fear and the humiliation Itachi had caused him earlier and he needed Naruto - even if just for a moment, he needed to feel his existence.

The voice from his team mates signaling that he had moved into his second lap jerked him from his troubled reflection and he looked at his vehicle readings before revving the engine a little to speed down the straights, warming it up even further. Unfortunately, not taking the car out often enough meant that the engine was fresh and a little raw, which Sasuke could tell from the way it purred, but being new had its advantages and with a few turns down the track today, the inner workings was set to smoothen up especially with a second practice session in store later in the afternoon. He cleared the final hair pin with a fairly aggressive breaking stance and started flooring his accelerator, shifting his gears up frantically. He passed the first long straight achieving a top speed of 200km/h before he had to shift the gear a notch down to take the wide bend. As he exited the turn he floored it again and raced across the starting line to begin his timed lap.

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“Hello, I’m looking for Uzumaki Naruto.” Deidara spoke to a messy-haired gentleman who eyed him suspiciously before heading towards the sleeping blonde. It was about time to wake him up anyway since his car needed a first temperature reading and Naruto only had another 19 teams before he had to take his turn on the track.

“Oi, Naruto, someone’s looking for you.”

The sleepy man lifted his head and fluttered his eye-lids before meeting Deidara’s friendly gaze.

“Hi Naruto, am Deidara. One of Sasuke’s guards.”

Naruto’s eyes widened at that and he stood abruptly. “You…,” Naruto was readying to fight the man.

“Wait before you get the wrong idea, I’m just one of the two guards Sasuke has breathing down his neck and as a quick bottom line, I’m not the one you should be afraid of.”

“Why the fuck should I trust you?”

“Because I was just about to arrange for a meeting with him and you have no choice but to trust me if you ever wanna keep seeing him. You’ll have to do exactly as I say otherwise I can’t promise you’ll stay alive long enough even for the race.”

Naruto swallowed. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Naruto, is there a problem?” Neji asked whilst Shikamaru folded his arms to glare at the stranger.

Naruto hesitated. He didn’t want to trust anyone who had been ordered to keep Sasuke under a tight leash. He had no reason to do so, especially since Sasuke had warned him not to even make an attempt to go near. Deidara realized that Naruto must have been forewarned and wasn’t going to follow him unless he produced proof that he meant him absolutely no harm.

“He’s using my phone to contact you. Would that clear things up a bit?”

Naruto’s expression softened. No wonder he hadn’t recognized the number. “It’s alright Shika, Neji, I’ll be back before my turn.”

“Naruto, you only have another 20 minutes at most and you don’t even know what this person’s up to.”

Naruto flashed a fake but bright smile, “Don’t worry, if I’m not back you guys can just …. Call the police or something. Come on let’s go.”

“Naruto…” Neji called out but his friend had hurried off with the suspicious man. Shikamaru had tugged onto Neji’s sleeve and when Neji turned to look at Shikamaru angrily, he just shook his head in reply.

“It’s just something Naruto has to do.” Shikamaru stated. Neji sighed but stomped off with his friend following closely behind.

TBC

*The next chapter will be coming soon. I’m just finishing the edits. Cheers :)

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