Watching

[Previous Author's Note, kept for posterity. Look below for story.]...Well. Um... I'm not dead. Seriously. To be honest, I had planned to drop this fic, because I've somehow managed to lose all inspiration, and my classes are really getting to me. Last semester, I was in a kind of do-or-die situation, in which I had one semester to pull up my GPA or I would get kicked out of the Honors dorms. So I did pull up my GPA, and my residency is no longer in jeapordy, but I'm taking even HARDER classes this semester. However, a friend promised me fanfiction (of the NaruSasu variety) and her non-existent virginity if I would update, so I am going to attempt it. However, this will require me to re-read my own fic (because even I've forgotten what the hell is going on), and then I'll have to somehow manage to find the notes I had for the remaining chapters. I was certain I had at least part of the next chapter written, but I can't find it anywhere. Anyway, you can hopefully expect a new chapter within the next few weeks.

I just wanted to let you guys know that I really am very sorry for the long hiatus, and that I am working on finishing this fic. Thanks a bunch for all of your reviews, and I hope to have an update for you soon![/Author's note]


A/N: Well, here’s the new chapter, as I promised. Um… a few notes, before you start reading. First of all, I don’t actually mention Yondaime’s name, because I don’t know it. But if you just have to know his name, then think of it just as Uzumaki Yondaime. Because… I don’t think his name is ever given. So.

::EDIT:: xD; Guys, I think the Arashi thing is totally a fandom thing. There is no manga evidence to support that, as far as I know. So, please, unless you can cite the manga chapter that SAYS Yondaime's name is Arashi (if you can, please do; ^^; he would be so much easier to write if I had an actual name for him), please stop telling me his name is Arashi. I appreciate the help, I do, but I have already heard of that. I just can't find the manga basis for it, and until I can, I can't use that name. I've already asked several people and had them confirm for me that Arashi is not actually his name, so again, unless you can give me some manga evidence to back it up, let's just leave it alone ^^; Some friends did look it up for me, and said that apparently the supposed basis for this is that the name Arashi was written on the summoning contract for Gama Bunta, but still others say that the writing on the contract is simply gibberish meant to look like bad Japanese hand-writing. So, like I said, I can't find anything that proves Arashi to be his name, so I cannot use that name.

Also, the only ‘prison’ visit I actually remember is the few times that I went to visit my brother at juvi. So, for the prison scene here, I got info from a friend of mine. She basically described a prison visit she’d been on, and I used it as reference. So… if you see anything wrong with my description xD it’s totally her fault, not mine!

That done, I hope you enjoy the chapter.

***

Now. This is the part in this fun little story where I’m going to introduce you to the irony gods.

Irony gods, readers. Readers, irony gods. Glad we got that out of the way.

I’ve mentioned them before, right? Well, just in case you didn’t get it the first time around (not everyone is as brilliant as I am, I know), the irony gods are these happy little beings who, just when my life is going right, like to hop in and fuck everything up. They get this strange sort of glee out of it, really. Bastards. I kind of imagine them as these disfigured little cupid-looking things flying around on stubby little wings and getting off on the misery of others. I mean, when you’re that ugly, maybe it’s understandable that you’d enjoy making someone as amazing as me unhappy. That doesn’t make it okay, though.

I’d give you a few examples of the results of their work (father in jail, poor, innocent son an outcast, that kinda thing), but you’re about to see a prime example of the irony gods at work, so it’d be kinda pointless.

Whatever. Just sit back, relax, and watch as everything falls apart.

***

When Sasuke was younger, he’d sometimes imagined getting revenge on whatever depraved monster had murdered his family. The gruesome fantasies that had run through his mind had been startling, even frightening, especially to someone so young. But they’d been… satisfying. No, more than that. He had reveled in them, survived off of them. Off of the childish dream that one day, he’d find this murderer and make him pay, make him suffer. And somehow, that would make everything alright. His family would come back, his brother would be his brother again, and Sasuke… Sasuke would be himself again. Not this thing that had merely inhabited his body since the murders.

The childish hope for his old life had faded with time, all but disappeared as Sasuke matured.

But the fantasies? The depraved, bloody visions of revenge?

Those stayed.

***

Naruto got out of a cab at the gate to the Uchiha mansion. He pulled a few wrinkled bills out of his pocket and handed them to the driver, then stepped up onto the curb as the cab drove away, leaving behind only the faint scent of car exhaust. A grin spread across the blond’s face as he bounded through the front gate and down the long driveway.

He briefly noticed a figure framed in a window of one of the upper-stories, but the curtains shifted and the presence was gone a moment after Naruto glanced in that direction. It reminded him oddly of his very first visit to Sasuke’s home, and the way Itachi‘s foreboding figure had watched from one of the mansion's many windows as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had approached.

Naruto shook his head and came to a stop at the front door, pushing the button for the doorbell, listening to it ring distantly through the mansion, then grinning maliciously and pressing it repeatedly, waiting for someone to answer. A few moments later he heard the door being unlocked and it swung open. Uchiha Itachi stood framed in the doorway, looking evil, demented, downright scary… because he was smiling. In an odd, ‘I am so pleased with myself’ manner. Naruto wrinkled his nose.

“Sasuke does not want any visitors today,” Itachi said calmly, that same pleased smirk lingering on his lips, though his eyes, while sharp, remained devoid of emotion.

Naruto scowled, blue eyes narrowing to slits. This guy really had a talent for getting on his nerves. “Yeah, well tell him it’s me and he’ll change his mind. He promised to do somethin’ with me today.”

“So he told me,” Itachi responded. “He also told me not to allow anyone inside. Goodbye, Naruto.”

The words held a finality that made alarm bells start going off in Naruto’s head, and he moved closer to the door, eyes widening in shock. “Wait! Let me in, damnit--!” But the door had already closed in his face.

***

Sasuke watched through a slight opening in the curtains as Naruto pounded angrily at the door. The sound of the doorbell rang obnoxiously through the house as the blond again resorted to its use, one tone not even finishing before another started. Idiot apparently couldn’t even wait for the bell to finish ringing before he pushed it again.

How like Naruto.

It was probably about twenty minutes before Naruto gave up and turned away from the door. He ran down the front steps, blond hair shining in the sun, and turned, facing the house again. Sasuke realized a moment too late that he was checking the windows and pulled back sharply when Naruto’s eyes locked on him. He moved out of sight for several moments, his heart pounding in his chest, hoping that the idiot would just give up and leave.

After it seemed to him that enough time had passed, Sasuke chanced pulling the curtains aside enough to get another look outside. Naruto had indeed turned away from the window, and was walking down the long driveway, back towards the road. Sasuke watched him, the boy--almost man--that he was certain he loved, and something dark inside him wanted to lash out, to hurt him. It made Sasuke nauseous, how badly he wanted to hurt Naruto in that moment. He raised a hand to cover his mouth and looked away, closing his eyes.

No. He didn’t think he’d be seeing Naruto for a while.

***

Naruto had almost forgotten how much he loathed the process necessary to get in to see his father. After arriving at the prison, he first had to go through a metal detector. As usual, he somehow managed to have something somewhere on him that would set off the alarm. This time, it was his house key, which he’d forgotten to take out of his pocket. So, despite the fact that he showed the guards that it was his key which had caused the obnoxious beeping of the alarm, they still pulled him aside and went over his entire body with the hand-held metal detector.

Having to stand with his arms stretched out and his legs spread apart while a strange man or rather butchy woman waved a stick over his body always left him feeling vaguely violated.

That done, he showed his ID to the receptionist, had his picture taken (he’d never really understood the point in that), and signed in. It was unnerving, walking around with the cameras everywhere. He silently reminded himself not to scratch his ass or anything while he was there. Some guard somewhere sitting in front of a security monitor would probably get a good laugh from it.

Through all of this, Naruto couldn’t help but think about how much less nerve-wracking it would have been to have Sasuke with him. Even if, in the end, the brunet hadn’t been allowed to actually see his father with him, just knowing that he was nearby would have made things easier.

He shook that thought off, determined not to let Sasuke ruin the visit for him.

The room where he was allowed to see his father was long, one wall lined with thick-paned windows. The windows had little tables beneath them, with a chair in front of them. Telephones attached to the wall next to the windows provided a way for visitors to speak with inmates, and vice versa.

Naruto shifted uneasily in his chair, avoiding looking through the thick window in front of him and into the tired blue eyes on the other side. His father was still a young man, but he looked so… run down. His blond hair was dull and limp, his naturally tanned skin missing its once glowing quality. The loose-fitting, orange jumpsuit he was wearing only served to emphasize the unflattering pallor that his skin had taken on.

It had been years since Naruto had visited his father. It was strange, seeing his childhood hero reduced to a tired, beaten-down, mortal man. He didn’t like it.

“Have your aunt and uncle been taking good care of you?” The words sounded stunted and hollow coming through the telephone Naruto had to his ear. When he really thought about it, he felt kind of stupid, using a phone to talk to someone who he could see only a few feet away.

“…Yeah,” Naruto lied, scuffing the toe of his shoe against the tiled floor. “How’ve you been?”

A weary, but genuine smile was his answer, a spark lingering in those blue eyes, in spite of everything. Naruto missed it, though, still unable to look at his father. “I’m alright. It’s not as bad as it could be.” A short pause. “…I wish you’d visit more, though.”

Naruto forced a grin, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, a gesture he’d unconsciously picked up from the man before him. “Yeah… I was plannin’ on it, actually, but… things didn’t work out.”

“What do you mean?”

Naruto thought about Sasuke, about everything that had happened with him, and he couldn’t bring himself to tell his father about it. What could he possibly say? ‘Yeah, Dad, the guy I like seems to be ditching me. But, I mean, here in prison, you probably know all about that.’ Ew… he didn’t want to think about that.

Recognizing that look, his father smiled again. Naruto was at that age… “Girl troubles?”

Naruto laughed bitterly and nodded. Girl troubles, indeed. The bastard was certainly moody like a girl. “Something like that.”

“Well, do you like her?”

Sighing, Naruto shook his head. He wasn’t sure he was up to discussing his love life with his incarcerated father. Especially when the man thought he was talking about a girl. “Dad…”

“Do you?”

He sighed again. “Yeah. I really do.”

“Then don’t give up on her.” The older man grinned, the smile a mirror of Naruto’s own trademark grin. “If you’re anything like me, you’re stubborn. Not always the best trait, but hey, gotta use it when you can.” His smile turned downright devious. “Annoy her until she gives in.”

Naruto blinked once. Then again. Then finally lifted his gaze and met his father’s. “…Huh. You know, that might just work.”

***

Short, but you guys should be used to short chapters from me by now ^^; Anyway, hope it was worth the wait. The next chapter will probably be out whenever my friend starts poking me into writing again.

(As a sidenote... reviews do help me write faster ^~ )