A grain of truth

XIII

Naruto woke up in the tickling sensation of what he knew to be Neji’s mouth on his exposed shoulder giving butterfly kisses down his arm and his husband’s arm tightening around his stomach under the sheets as he squirmed closer against Neji, his back meeting the man’s chest while his head pillowed Neji’s other arm.

“Neji… you surprised me earlier. I actually thought you were retreating back to your teens. You suddenly had the libido of a-” The hazy voice was cut off as the blonde chuckled, squirming a little when Neji’s mouth tickled his ear. “I can’t go for another round Neji.”

“It just shows how I missed you so much.”

“Hey.” Naruto quickly turned around, arms snaking to embrace the man’s waist and he buried his face against Neji’s naked chest. “How about I give you a reason to come back here more often hm?”

Neji just furrowed his brows in question as he looked down on his wife’s smiling eyes and then it confused him even more when Naruto chuckled again.

“You can’t possibly think that I’m just that full that my tummy’s all big daddy dearest.”

“Wait you’re saying-I mean that time-I-when you-I didn’t-”

“I told you you shouldn’t risk not wearing it. Now we’re going to have another mini Neji on the way.”

“Oh god that’s just so…” What Neji couldn’t describe with words he did with actions, he buried his mouth at the top of Naruto’s head and hugged him tightly with a happy groan.

“The first month was easier than expected, I’m expecting my third pregnancy so when I called Sakura to examine me, she said it’s going to be easier.”

“Sorry for not being here with you for a long time…”

“It’s fine I understand but… Neji, you’re not going to ask why Sasuke’s here yesterday?” His voice was no more than a squeak, but Naruto’s hold on Neji was so tight he though he was going to suffocate, but Neji liked it, when Naruto would hold him like that.

“Do I have a reason to?”

“… You’re not jealous?”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t it. I was angry, you never told me on the phone about Sasuke… or his divorce. But I missed you too much to care that time.”

“Neji please don’t get angry…” Now this was what had gotten Neji’s mind to take a more suspicious turn when Naruto refused to look at him and just moved to bury his face on Neji’s chest.

“What?”

“When you left for Tokyo I just didn’t know what to do. The kids are getting more rebellious and I was just so tired from work, I just found out I was pregnant and then Maria’s visit to the sick room and the Head’s office was getting more and more frequent I was afraid what would happen to the kids if I didn’t tell them… Neji, Hikari even went as far as attempting to run away if I didn’t caught him leaving… Nagi went missing for a week and then… and then… Nozomi got mumps while Hakuto was out for two weeks because of measles…”

Naruto was already starting to break into sob by the time he’d gotten to the twins falling ill but he still continued, nervousness piling up at what Neji would say when he would finally break the news for him. “The teacher said if Maria didn’t buckle up he might get dropped, then Nagi was rumored to have raped a girl Hikari kept locking himself up in his room and I just realized he’d been smoking behind our backs because of stress he said nobody wants to talk to them because of the rumors and I was just so afraid what that could do to their mental state so I told them I’d say it I told them Sasuke’s their real dad that’s why Sasuke’s here earlier ‘coz he said he wants to adopt Nagi to become his legal successor… Neji don’t be angry, don’t be angry please… I love you, but, but don’t get angry… I was only thinking for the kids it doesn’t mean anything I love you…”

Neji didn’t know whether he should get angry, feel pity, or curse himself for having leaving Naruto at a chaotic time. He decided to do the latter, he shouldn’t have left without solving their problem first, all that time that Naruto was saying they were alright, who knew what could be really happening that time?

“Why didn’t you-”

“I don’t want to worry you ‘coz you already have many things on your mind I want you to be successful and I thought I shouldn’t bother you anymore I thought I’d wait for you till you get back but you didn’t return for a long time… sorry Neji, Neji don’t be angry… are you angry for what I did?”

“No… no I… I should be the one apologizing. Sorry for leaving all this burden to you, and to think what could’ve happened to our baby because of the stress… I wasn’t even aware that the twins were sick. I’m such a loser…”

“You’re not angry?” Tear streaked blue eyes finally looked up too Neji, the man’s own pallid lilac orbs gazing down softly at the blonde and he moved his hand to wipe at the stray tears on Naruto’s cheeks.

“I’m not. This happened because I wasn’t here. Because of my selfish reasons, I refused to face the fact that the kids were realizing something wasn’t right... and I guess you could say… I ran away. I’m really sorry, I’ll stay by your side as much as I can from now on. Even on the phone, please tell me the truth, I won’t be able to bear it if you hide anything from me again…”

“Okay…”

“Let’s sleep?”

“Yeah… okay… ”

On the following Sunday which was branded as family day for them the group woke up early to start the morning, every week they would prepare meals in advance to eat in the park after hearing their Sunday mass in a nearby church.

While Neji and the twins looked immaculate in their white long sleeved shirts and black pants, shorts for the kids, Hikari and Nagi looked untouchable in their sleek black silk sleeveless shirt over a black coat, black slacks to match and Maria with his penchant for casual things had resolved to wearing faded jeans, a bracelet with wooden beads on his wrist and an orange hoody over a sleeveless collared shirt, the silver earring on his ear hidden in his parents view by his spiky hair which he begged Yuuhi to secretly pierce for him when the brunette visited last time.

Because Naruto couldn’t wear tight shirts anymore and overgrown things would just look ugly on him outside, he had, much to his dismay returned to wearing maternity dresses which the twins had been looking forward to since they thought their mommy looks nice in the picture when he was still pregnant with them.

What Naruto had in mind was to pray what he had been praying for ever since he had his own family.

“God please give us guidance and care, help us get through this year as always and thank you for taking care of us.”

He hadn’t expected for something that he too had been wishing for to happen right at the very instant that they emerged from the church with the children and Neji.

“Nathan?” That familiar voice that rang in his ears behind him suddenly made the blonde’s heart skip a bit, his heart shot up his throat as his hold on Nozomi and Hakuto’s hands tightened causing for the twins to look up to him and the rest of his family too.

“Nathaniel Walters?”

Regulating his breath Naruto felt tears escape his eyes and then he let go of the twins, turning around to smile at the now aged woman with grayish hair tied up into a neat bun wearing her white church habit and a bible in her hands with her rosary.

“It’s Naruto Hyuga now, mom.”

Maria cried in joy as she quickly went to embrace her son, singing praises of God’s will as she continued to mutter ‘my son’ over and over again, for a moment they had forgotten of the rest watching the reunion. Naruto had been waiting, it had been his wish at the back of his mind to see his mother again, the person who had loved and took great care of him and molded him into the man that he was now.

“Mom I missed you so much…” The blonde whimpered through the material on her shoulder while Maria sobbed on his chest.

“I thought you were just a look alike but I really felt it Nathan… When we traveled here for a vacation I heard that the house is now being occupied by the Hyuga family… but… I thought you’ve already sold it, but that Mrs. Hyuga is actually you…”

“I got married, I had planned on contacting you that time but when I went over you’ve already moved, I had no idea… I missed you so much mom. I wanted you so much to be there on my wedding day…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I haven’t been a good mother have I? I wasn’t able to do anything… if only I stood up for you we wouldn’t have been parted, you wouldn’t have been separated with your siblings…”

“Is… how’s dad doing? M-Menma how is he? And Ino?”

When they finally pulled apart they suddenly felt embarrassed at seeing each other’s crying faces and hurriedly wiped off the streaks of moisture.

“Menma and Ino’s going to pick me up later with your father.”

“Is he still-”

“Mama hurry up I’m hungry.” Their attention was suddenly pulled away from each other to a whining Hakuto pulling the hem of his sleeve with a pleading look, followed by a very curious Nozomi.

“Mama, mama, who is she? She looks just like in the picture but she’s wrinkly now. You called her mommy so is she your mommy? Huh? Huh? Then is she our granny? Can we call her granny? What should we call her?”

Naruto could just chuckle at her two sons as he continued to wipe at the tears that were starting to well up again in the corner of his eyes. “I’m sorry you guys… Neji?”

As if on cue the group of four males awkwardly walked towards them and Neji gulped as Maria adjusted her glasses and narrowed her eyes in scrutiny, as if she was calculating something in her mind as her eyes took turns on the triplets, especially on the blonde to the near aging man beside them whose hair was neatly pony-tailed.

“Mother I’d like to introduce to you, my husband. Mom, this is Neji Hyuga.”

“G-good afternoon Madame, it’s such an honor to finally meet you.” Neji Hyuga formally gave a respectful bow which the elderly woman just nodded to with a smile.

“I had triplets, my first born Maria.”

“H-hey… um… hello.” The blonde Maria gave a sheepish smile as he imitated his father, but the raven Maria was taken aback at the fact that Naruto had named his son after her.

“My second, Hikari.”

“Good afternoon.” Was the smooth greeting followed by a more dignified bow.

“And my third, Nagi.” Nagi only muttered a quiet hello before imitating his brothers and father.

“They’re all in their second year middle school, all fourteen year olds. And these are our twins, Nozomi and Hakuto they’re both seven and already in third grade since they excelled.”

The twins saluted with a cheerful hello making the elderly woman chuckle, it seemed that her son had found a good man, she was having ideas that the triplets’ real father didn’t end up with her Nathaniel, but as long as he’s happy then it’s fine.

“We have so much catching up to do, mom we’re going to the park for a picnic after this, I want you to come, please?”

“Alright, I want to spend time with my grandchildren as much as possible.”

“The car’s this way ma’m.” Neji led the elderly woman carefully towards the parking lot with the family and an obviously happy Naruto disappearing for a second only to find that he had bought a disposable camera in the convenience store.

The half of the day had been pure bliss for the whole family, they would always joke around and Naruto’s mother seemed to never stop laughing at the blonde Maria’s antics, because they brought Riku with them since Hakuto insisted, it was twice the fun just watching the twins run after Riku and throw Frisbees in turn making the twins run away from Riku the moment the dog had finally caught the disc.

They had been talking about all things like Naruto’s hyper active childhood that made the blonde blush in embarrassment and Neji laugh his heart out, in turn the couple talked about her grandchildren each describing their personalities making the siblings blush afterwards.

It was all fun that Maria forgot her husband was supposed to pick her up at the church, but since the park was located behind it all she had to do was call him.

The meeting had been very abrupt, Carl didn’t even leave his car even if with just one glance he knew that his wife’s company was none other than Nathan, he knew Maria’s reason for taking their vacation to Koube instead of Hakone was because of the sole reason she was hoping to see him, and indeed she finally had.

While the teenagers Menma and Ino in their memories had recognized Nathan and ran towards him with tears of joy Carl insisted to just stay quiet in the car as Maria hopped beside the driver’s seat. The blonde man was happy just seeing that Nathan’s life was now doing well, well bred children, a responsible and understanding husband it was enough to see that he was happy for Carl’s guilt to fade.

He had realized his own depravity once his rage was calmed down, in the following days that his considered first born son was gone he began to miss his cheerfulness and attempts to cheer him up every time he was down. He missed the coffee Nathan would bring him to sooth his nerves at the end of every working day that only the blonde could pull off making. He missed the blonde’s graceful voice every time he would sing in the choir. By the time he realized with regret that what Kiba said he was feeling was indeed true it was already too late, he had already lost his son, even his true children, Michael and Iris felt lonely without their nii-chan, they were still in middle school after all when Naruto was disowned.

His own ego and pride proved to be too overwhelming for him to start asking for Nathan’s whereabouts, still the guilt remained and all he could do as his own children finally bid Naruto farewell and followed them with blue orbs was to put up a soft gingery smile, hoping that somehow Naruto could forgive him.

Someday… maybe, he could embrace his grandchildren with ease.

He was able to finally breath a sigh of relief, felt how the heaviness on his shoulders somehow get lifted as that one, true smile washed away all the guilt in his heart with one sweep and he smiled back again this time a more carefree one before he started the engine once again.

“We’d see them again next time, right Carl?” Maria said as the two siblings hopped on the backseat still waving goodbye to the family on the park.

“Yeah…”

Next time.

*Aaaaaah! I can finally feel that the end is coming for these two! And I mean end!!!! I could not help but feel exuberant and full of youth! Do you not see the blue in these eyes rivaling the brightness of the sky!? –points to a crying Naruto held by his head- This handsome uke face comparable to the sunshine of the sun!? –grips the poor blonde by the jaw- My world should have already crumbled to mere specks of dust had I not found the beauty in this world that is called Naruto –smooches him mercilessly-, be amazed to the youthful glow of the ultimate uke that even I cannot recreate!!! –holds out a monument of a naked Naruto in a fig leaf underwear holding an apple pointing to infinity and beyond, god knows just how heavy that stone monument could be-

-fires raging in the background scene-

–exuberant, big word, I know you feel happy for that word, you know who you are don’t worry I don’t hate you for making Neji a social climbing gold digging bastard ehehe hey he’s changed right?-

Guys I want to tell you something, I dared internalizing on a NaruSasu scene while making up another story in my mind and I found out that I just CAN’T do it! God what is wrong with me!? It seems Hina88 is the only one who can make me feel good about reading a NaruSasu… but I can’t make one to save my perverted life, haaa...