Here's to the Fox

A/N: my, my, my. here we are again. at least i didn't take as long as last time, ne? *sweatdrop* well, i think i made up for it... maybe... um... just, uh, read, i guess...

this chapter is for Rasengan22, whose life is being an unreasonable bitch right now. hope things gets better soon! *throws smexy chapter at her*

same tags apply
EDIT: i think i should mention that there has been a seme-switch in the plotline. i mean, when i was trying to write the smut, i just couldn't, COULDN'T picture sasuke as seme. so, it'll be narusasu from here on. sorry and congrats all around.

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Here's to the Fox: Chapter 11
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Sasuke walked through the blood-splattered streets of the Uchiha district, not looking at the dead bodies that littered the concrete paths. He’d seen this in his nightmares too many times for it to affect him anymore, but his nerves were frazzled by the sheer willpower it took not to go crazy as he walked these streets over and over again.

‘It’s just like when Aniki used his Sharingan on me after he killed everyone.’

Sasuke didn’t know why, but he had control over his mind and body. Usually, Itachi’s genjutsu would guide his mind, making him relive the pain and anguish from all those years ago. But this time, nothing could reach him, as if it hadn’t really happened to him.

His home stood before him, and he calmly walked inside, straight to the room where he knew his parents lay dead; the room where Itachi would appear with those emotionless red eyes; the same eyes he once had before Kakashi brought him back home.

But as he neared the doors, Sasuke heard something coming from inside, a sound, like singing. That hadn’t happened before. He leaned closer, letting the singing wash over him, and suddenly the words were clearer. Dread dropped like a stone into his stomach, and he threw open the doors.

Inside, his parents lay in a pool of their blood as they always did, but Itachi wasn’t the one standing over their bodies. The Fox turned his blood-red eyes on him, and Sasuke’s heart caught in his throat as faceless children danced around the Fox and his parents.

“Here’s to the Fox, whoever he be. May he live long and merrily! Here’s to the Fox, whoever he be. May he live long and merrily! Here’s to the Fox, whoever he be…”

Sasuke backed away from the sight, fighting the urge to fall to his knees and vomit. What was Naruto doing there? Why was he covered in blood?

“Foolish little brother,” the words whispered through his mind. Sasuke clawed at his head, wanting Itachi’s voice to stop its insidious whispering. He wanted to claw his eyes out. He just wanted to wake up!

His surroundings began to melt and wash away, until Sasuke was left in utter darkness.

~*~

The first thing Sasuke was aware of was a soft snoring sound to his left. And just underneath it was the light twittering of birds outside his window. For some reason, his body was loath to move, so Sasuke just lay there, trying to recap what had gotten him into such a level of soreness.

He recalled with a flinch the fight he’d had with Naruto over his conversation with Gaara, and Sasuke wasn’t reluctant to admit that he’d been a bit hasty. Then he remembered that embarrassing moment when Naruto had sung to him, followed by the dream-like kiss they’d shared.

And then he remembered looking into crimson eyes just before being plunged into a world of nightmares.

Itachi.

Knowing overreacting at the moment was not the best course of action, Sasuke slowly opened his eyes in case the drapes were open and turned his head in the direction of the snoring. Naruto sat slumped in a chair by his bed, a bit of drool sliding down his chin and a hand scratching at his exposed belly.

Sasuke recalled the last part of his ‘dream,’ the Fox standing over his dead parents, and he closed his eyes in pain. That image was the result of Itachi finding out about his attachment to the blonde, and now he knew that a fight was dawning on the horizon. There would be no getting out of this one, and one of them would surely have to die, if not both, he and Itachi.

A noise at his door alerted him that someone was in his room other than he and Naruto, and Sasuke looked over in that direction. Hinata was walking closer with a tray of something that smelled delicious to the suddenly starving Uchiha.

“Good morning, Sasuke-kun. Kakashi-sensei said you should be waking up about now, so I thought you’d be hungry.”

Sasuke grunted in reply and gingerly sat up in bed. He felt the muscles in his body stiffen as he stretched, and he wondered just how long he’d been out. Eventually, his curiosity won, and he asked Hinata.

“You were out for three days. Naruto-kun didn’t leave your side until the day nurse threatened bodily harm.”

Three days? The Uchiha’s mind reeled from that information. Itachi wasn’t strong enough to make the Tsukiyomi last for three hours, let alone three days. He looked to Hinata as she set the tray in his lap.

“Do they know why I was out for so long?”

“No, but Tsunade-sama thinks it has something to do with your curse mark activating.”

“What?” Sasuke stared at her in disbelief as his hand went to his neck.

“Naruto-kun told Kakashi-sensei and Tsunade-sama that when he found you, the curse mark was covering your body.”

Sasuke glanced over to the blonde and saw him shift in the chair. Naruto’s nose twitched a bit, and his eyes showed signs of wanting to open. Sasuke turned back to Hinata.

“Thank you, Hinata. It seems Naruto is about to wake up, so could you please bring him some food as well, and tell Tsunade that I’d like to see her soon?”

“Tsunade-sama wanted me to report when you woke, anyway, so I’ll go do that now, Sasuke-kun.”

Sasuke nodded to her, and she left the room. Then he turned his attention back to Naruto only to see blue eyes staring at him, lips thinned into an unhappy frown.

“Are you sure you should be sitting up like that?”

“I’m fine,” Sasuke returned. Naruto didn’t say anything to that, and Sasuke got the impression he was mad. Then he remembered once again the wild accusations and stinging words he hurled at the blonde three days ago. He hesitantly cleared his throat before he spoke once again. “I’m… sorry, for what I said before. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

Naruto snorted in derision. “Yeah, well, I shouldn’t have kept any of that a secret. Just know, Sasuke, that the minute I found out you were the one Gaara and I had been seeking, I decided to change plans. I would never use you like that.”

“Hn,” was all he replied, but a faint smile tried to tug his lips upward. Then a loud banging sound reached them from downstairs, and then footsteps could be heard on the stairs. Tsunade walked into the room like she owned it and grinned at Sasuke.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, brat. Good morning to you, too, Naruto.”

“Baa-chan! You’re so loud for this early in the morning!” Then Naruto’s stomach growled. “I need food!” And he was gone before Sasuke could say anything to that. Tsunade regarded him sadly for a moment, and Sasuke realized Naruto left for a reason.

“What is it, Hokage-sama?”

“Kakashi has informed me of some very disturbing news. Hinata has told you that your curse mark activated, correct?” Sasuke nodded. “Well, apparently, Kakashi and Naruto reached your room while Itachi was still in here. They said that he was the only one, but two voices were heard. Kakashi had a theory, and while you were out, I sent him to investigate.

“The last known Sound base said to have housed Orochimaru is active again, but Sound ninja aren’t the only ones there. Akatsuki has also been confirmed as coming and going in that location.”

Sasuke held his breath at what he knew had to be coming.

“Kakashi’s theory is that Orochimaru was somehow able to transfer his soul to Itachi’s body, but Itachi did something and kept his own soul in there as well. The best we can come up with is that they now share a body, and that was why your curse seal activated in Itachi’s presence.”

Sasuke let the information sink into his brain. That had to also be the reason Itachi’s genjutsu lasted much longer now, because he had more chakra to utilize – his and the snake’s.

“Naruto and Gaara have approached me with a plan. They seem to be at the top of Akatsuki’s ‘things to do’ list, so they’re going to leave the village.”

Everything in Sasuke went still.

“If Akatsuki pursues them, I will send squads to back them up when they engage in battle. However, if Akatsuki decides to come after you instead, Naruto and Gaara will attack them from the rear. The plan is flawed and dangerous since it all depends on what Akatsuki will do, but it’s the best we’ve got.”

He barely heard her words, his mind still clinging to the fact that Naruto was leaving.

“With the situation as it is, you might not be an asset in the upcoming battle. I want you as far away from the front lines as possible.”

Sasuke didn’t reply, though his hurt was steadily being overtaken by his rage. How dare they keep him from fighting this fight! Itachi wasn’t his first priority any longer, but that didn’t mean he’d sit back and let someone else take down his brother.

“For now, you need to relax and get your strength back. I don’t detect any signs of lasting psychological damage, but if you get out of this bed before your chakra restores, I will strap you to a gurney in the hospital and have Sakura spoon feed you cod liver oil three times a day, do you hear me?”

“Hn.”

“All right, finish your breakfast. I’ll send Naruto back up here.” Tsunade winked at him, and Sasuke fought against a blush that wanted to spread over his stunned features. What did she know?

His thoughts were derailed when Naruto entered the room again. He smiled at Sasuke, and Sasuke answered the smile with a small lifting of his lips, though it was tinged with a bit of bitterness. He shouldn’t be surprised that the blonde was leaving; everyone left. Naruto thought he had a fear of rejection; well, Sasuke had a fear of reality, where rejection was a constant occurrence.

“Baa-chan says you’re going to be fine. I was really worried, teme! First some stranger sneaks into your room and does some weird jutsu thing to you, and then all those black marks covered you…! I didn’t think you’d ever wake up. Don’t scare me like that again!”

Sasuke watched Naruto’s face for any sign of insincerity, but all that he could find was a well of protectiveness and faint traces of fear in those bottomless blue eyes. Sasuke looked to the tray on his lap and moved it to the side table. Then he reached out for Naruto and brought the blonde down to his bed, holding him close and listening to his breathing.

“Sasuke?”

‘I’ll let you go, Naruto. And then I’ll break. But for right now, just let me be near you.’

Naruto moved to try and break his hold, but Sasuke held on tighter. “Sasuke, I’m just moving to your side.”

The Uchiha loosened his arms, and Naruto moved them both into a lying position on his bed, and Sasuke’s arms went around the blonde again. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, and Sasuke closed his eyes to sleep. He felt Naruto return the embrace as he fell into darkness again.

~*~

“I’ll come back, Sasuke.”

The soft voice brought the Uchiha out of sleep, and he opened his eyes to see Naruto leaning over him. Blue eyes looked at him tenderly, and a small smile graced his lips. He stared blearily at the young man, trying to recall what he’d been dreaming about before he’d been woken. The images were fuzzy, but there was a nagging feeling of worry…

“What?”

“You’re really transparent when one has time to think about it. You were angry and sad that I’m leaving, aren’t you? Like you were days ago.”

Sasuke averted his eyes, but a tanned hand cupped his cheek and directed his attention back to Naruto’s face.

“I’ll come back, Sasuke. When the battle’s over, when our enemies are dead, I’ll come back to you, if you’ll have me.”

Then Naruto was kissing him, and he didn’t have the breath to answer. His shaking hand rose and curled into Naruto’s hair, and Sasuke opened his mouth in a low groan when one of Naruto’s hands ran from his ribs to his knee, pushing the blanket down as it went. A warm tongue was thrust into his mouth, and Sasuke could taste the fresh remnants of miso ramen, a taste he’d never liked, but one he could get used to in this fashion.

Sasuke didn’t care what was happening. Naruto had said he’d come back, and that was all that mattered. He wasn’t going to abandon Sasuke and leave him all alone.

Naruto broke the kiss, and Sasuke pulled in much needed air as the blonde trailed nips and wet kisses down his jaw. When a particular spot on his neck was nibbled just right, Sasuke arched his back and cried out, his hand clawing at a muscled arm. Naruto bit more firmly into that spot, and Sasuke thought he might weep from the pleasure it produced.

Suddenly Naruto pulled away until he was barely touching the Uchiha, and Sasuke gave him a questioning look. “Did you mean it, Sasuke?”

“Mean what?”

He watched as Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”

Sasuke’s breath caught in his throat as those blue eyes opened and stared at him with such raw emotion. When had he slipped and said that? Naruto wasn’t supposed to know how much of the Uchiha he had wrapped around his finger.

Calm down? Calm down? How the fuck can I calm down when the man I love wants me dead?!

Sasuke tensed at the remembered declaration. That’s right. He had said that in a fit of fury, but that hadn’t made it any less true. If anything, it made it damn near indisputable. Sasuke did love him, but the blonde was never meant to find out. But things were different now, weren’t they? Naruto wasn’t meant to find out because the blonde was leaving. But now that he’d said he’d come back, why couldn’t he know? What was holding him back?

Fear of reality, where rejection was a constant occurrence. But Naruto had taken care of that by saying he’d return to him, right?

Sasuke released a slow breath and closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

“Look at me, Sasuke.” Sasuke opened his eyes to see Naruto smiling down at him. “Never be afraid to be honest with me, teme.”

Naruto kissed him again, and Sasuke returned it with vigor, unbelievably relieved that Naruto hadn’t rejected him.

The blonde ran his hand from Sasuke’s ribs to his knee again, gently, and Sasuke shivered from the contact. His body was becoming hot, and a need was building as Naruto bit at his sensitive neck again. That wandering hand slid up his body and under his shirt. Warm fingers flitted over his nipple, and Sasuke moaned low in his throat, trying to encourage the blonde to continue.

“Are you sure you want this,” Naruto panted onto Sasuke’s warm skin.

“Yeah,” he replied, just wanting Naruto do something with his hands and mouth again. The fox moved off him and began to pull at Sasuke’s shirt, and the Uchiha eagerly sat up to help. Naruto threw back the covers and reached to pull at the waistband of Sasuke’s pants. As they moved over his pale legs, tanned fingers trailing leisurely along his skin, Sasuke lay back and waited for whatever Naruto had in mind.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are, Sasuke?” Naruto chuckled, and Sasuke tried not to show how much that flustered him; he was used to being called ‘handsome’ and ‘hot,’ not ‘beautiful.’

Naruto reached out and ran a loving hand over his half-hard cock. Sasuke gasped at the contact, his body shuddering from the sensation. Naruto bent over him and began to lick a trail from his collarbone to his navel, slowly pumping him to full arousal.

Sasuke was panting, and he didn’t know what to do with his hands. He wanted to grip the sheets, Naruto’s hair, anything, but his mind was too overcome with pleasure to move them from on the pillow near his head.

“Naru…”

The rest of what he’d have said was ripped from him in a strangled scream as heat and wetness engulfed his rigid cock. He felt Naruto’s soft lips tighten around his length, and he looked down his body to see that blonde head begin to bob up and down, sucking his shaft with such heavenly pressure.

Sasuke’s hands finally moved and buried themselves in those unruly locks, minutely pulling and pushing the head attached to them. Then Naruto’s tongue speared his slit, lapping at the salty pre-cum, and Sasuke’s back arched off the bed. Naruto’s hands moved and slid down his back, cupping his ass, helping Sasuke fuck the fox’s mouth.

Then there was the unmistakable scratch of fangs over his sensitive flesh, and Sasuke released in that warm mouth, screaming his ecstasy to the ceiling. Naruto’s throat worked around him as the blonde swallowed, and then Sasuke was laid back down on the bed.

His eyes wouldn’t open, but he leaned into the hand that swept the sweat and bangs from his forehead. Naruto laughed softly and placed a chaste kiss on his temple.

“Sleep, Sasuke. Tomorrow is soon enough to worry.” Sasuke sank into blissful slumber.


TBC


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oh, i hope that was good enough. i was going to have them go all the way, but i was too lazy to write it out. it'll happen, don't worry.

guess what?! Silver Phantom drew me some fanart for this ficcie of naruto in his Fox form! *glomps* check it out, ne?
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/50382937/

thanks for reading!!