Dealing with Love (Complete)

Warning: two deaths, angst…CHAPTER EXPLANATIONS AT CHAPTER END…

Chapter 15:

Arashi picked up the phone impatiently. He was in the middle of a meeting and Deidara had just interrupted an important topic they were discussing. He excused himself and stepped outside to answer it.

“What is it?” he said harshly.

“Boss…” came the weak almost fading voice of Deidara. “Boss…Sasuke’s alive. Followed the detective.” A few hacking coughs were heard and a bit of wet spattering like blood.

“Deidara…are you ok? Get to a hospital or come to Hidan…” Arashi felt his heart sink. Not only was Sasuke alive, but Deidara his most trusted advisor was hurt.

“Found Naruto…he knows where Sasuke is…” a few more coughs. “Here’s the address…” he repeated the address slowly making sure Arashi would remember it, before letting his head loll back onto the headrest of his seat. “Detective’s dead…but he got me…kill Sasuke…get Naruto…”

“Deidara…Deidara!”

“Good luck boss…” the phone slipped from the pale blond man’s hands and hit the floor of the car with a clatter. Deidara’s eyes dulled, he could no longer hear Arashi’s frantic calls.

Arashi hung up and stared at his phone. Anger welled up inside him, all directed at Sasuke and a bit at Naruto. Deidara’s death was their fault…if Naruto hadn’t run, then everything would have been fine. And Sasuke…if Sasuke hadn’t lived or contacted the blasted private detective, all this would have been as easy as pie.

He walked into the conference room. For once he couldn’t find it in him to give that charming smile. “Something’s up. Excuse me…” and then he got into his own car and drove off.

He could hear his phone ringing as Hidan, no doubt, called him wondering why he’d walked out of the meeting. He ignored it, Hidan could go to hell. He had more important things to do. So Naruto knew where Sasuke was…well it would be better if he got to it first. Kakashi’s place…that bloody bastard had never told him he’d owned a place of his own. Arashi snarled to himself. When he found Kakashi, the man would face hell. Traitor!

They were all like that. His own son had betrayed him! And Kakashi as well… if Naruto came quietly, everything would be fine…

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Kakashi saw the car speeding away and followed it. He wanted to know where it was heading to. He got onto the Suna Main Road and saw that Arashi was heading to Central Suna…Kakashi prayed he was wrong…prayed that Arashi didn’t know about the hide-out.

He began tailing the man, until he realised another car seemed to be heading the same way. Risking a glance, he almost lost control of the car…it was Naruto. Kakashi would recognise Naruto anywhere! He drew up beside the car and honked. Finally Naruto caught his eye, Kakashi signalled for the Uzumaki to follow and they set off desperately trying to keep Arashi in sight.

Kakashi decided that tailing Arashi wasn’t an option. They had to get to the hideout first, if they really wanted to accomplish anything. Unfortunately the moment he sped up, the road block came down…a train was about to arrive. Kakashi stepped on the breaks and swore. Naruto stopped beside him and jumped out of his car.

“Kakashi, the train hasn’t gotten here yet…we can make it to the other side if we run! We’ll get a cab once we cross!” he grabbed Kakashi’s hand and began to run. They paid no heed to the angry shouts from the guards or the screams of horror from the on-lookers…it was too dramatic and the train was still far off. They kept running and finally got a cab.

Kakashi gave the directions, while Naruto stared out the window. “Please let me be on time! Please dad…don’t make me hurt you!” he whispered to himself.

Kakashi heard him, but couldn’t offer any comfort. He just joined in the prayer…hoping that he could save at least one person that truly mattered to him.

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Iruka picked up the two plates and rinsed them before shoving them into the dishwasher. Then he picked up the glass of orange juice and carried it to Sasuke. The dark haired man was sweating profusely, having just completed the physiotherapy exercises for his back and arm. He smiled at Iruka, the fact that he was going to see Naruto buffering the abnormally happy mood he was in. he gulped it down and handed it back to Iruka.

“I think I’ll go shower…what do you think I should wear?”

“Well…you remember that extremely pale blue shirt, Kakashi got you? Which you refuse to wear? I think you should wear that for a change…you know new beginnings…and well you looked good in it.” Iruka sometimes felt like he was Sasuke’s older brother or something. It felt nice to have reached that point of camaraderie with the man.

Sasuke hesitated before nodding. “Yeah maybe I will…so I’ll be in the shower. If I fall or something I’ll call you…” he walked off to the bathroom, slowly but surely.

Iruka watched him making sure he was okay, before moving to sit on the chair by the bed. He was happy that Naruto was finally coming…the tense atmosphere of the past months had melted away and morphed into dizzy anticipation. Sasuke’s grins were proof enough of that! He sat, lost in his own thoughts, though his ears were tuned to the bathroom, incase Sasuke fell or lost his balance.

Sasuke’s movement had improved, but he was still shaky…the shaky-ness would eventually reduce. He wondered when Sai and Naruto would get here…he was also waiting for Kakashi. He’d finally let the older man kiss him last night…maybe things were on the mend? He looked up as Sasuke came out, dressed in the pale blue shirt and grey jeans.

“You look nice. Now come here and let me tie your crepe bandage…”

Though the cast on his arm had come off, Sasuke still needed to wear crepe bandage on his arm to keep it still. The former slave flopped onto the bed and held his hand out to Iruka. “I don’t like this thing…”

Iruka frowned. “Well it helps, so don’t whine!”

“When…Naruto comes…” Sasuke frowned a bit. “You think everything will be all right?”

Iruka looked at him seriously. “I don’t know Sasuke. You’ve been through a lot; he’s been through a lot. And even if you guys are jumping for joy, you need to see where you want to take this relationship…”

“Hm…but then again, it’s Naruto. I think I can handle it!”

The door opened then to reveal a shock of blond hair. Both Iruka and Sasuke were about to yell a greeting when they stopped dead. Naruto had black and red hair now…

The newcomer smirked. “Well well, Umino Iruka and Uchiha Sasuke….Kakashi's doing I presume? That man seems to want to ruin every one of my plans.” He sauntered in pausing to straighten his shirt slightly. “So Sasuke, tell me…how come you’re alive?”

Sasuke glared at him. “Get the fuck out of here!”

Arashi’s eyes widened in mock hurt, before they went back to being serious. “I’m sorry, Sasuke-kun. Looks like I’ll have to kill you all over again. This time I’ll make it quick, I promise.”

“I’m not with Naruto! So why can’t just fucking leave us all alone! You act like this is a game!” Sasuke tried to stand up only to be pushed down by Iruka.

“Uzumaki-san…please leave. We are not expecting anyone and we don’t want to cause you any trouble. Sasuke is over Naruto and we’ll be leaving soon.” Iruka surveyed the scene around him as he talked. There had to be a way he could stop the man.

Arashi raised an eyebrow. “I doubt that. You see one of my employees just killed a man who goes by the name of Sai…” he enjoyed the way their eyes widened in shock and horror. “So I do have information that my erstwhile son is heading here. I just want to get rid of anyone who gets between me and him…”

“You killed Sai! You bastard!” Sasuke yelled, grief welling up in him.

“No, my employee, Deidara killed Sai….he died as well. Now Sasuke, enough talk really! We must get down to business…you must die this time, no more protests please. I really can’t have you popping back from the dead all the time.” Arashi smiled. He turned fluidly to stop the foot that came at his face. Holding Iruka leg, he helped the man into the wall, face first.

“Iruka!”

The brunette got up and tried to attack the blond again, but Arashi was too good for him. I must protect Sasuke! He began to attack in earnest; using anything that was a weapon, the chair, a plant…something had to work! Arashi blocked him efficiently; he even dodged anything Sasuke managed to throw at him.

Sasuke cursed in despair. He hadn’t recovered fully from his last beating; there was nothing he could do to help Iruka. “Iruka! Run! Please….just stop it!”

Arashi’s hand closed around the short brunette’s throat and flung him into the small kitchenette. Then he turned to Sasuke. “I think it’s enough, don’t you? Why don’t you just tell Umino-san that you’re ready to die, Sasuke? Unless you want to take him with you?”

“You’ll let him go, if I don’t struggle?”

“I promise you I will. So just do it Sasuke…”

“Iruka….stay out of this. Just let him do it…save yourself!”

“Sasu…ke!”

The dark haired boy faced Arashi from the bed. “Go ahead, Arashi…”

Iruka finally stood up and forced his legs to get moving. Must… protest… sasuke…he hoped he could get there in time.

Sasuke turned to see Iruka running for the gun. “Stay back!” he yelled desperately. Turning to Arashi he saw the man aim the gun at his head and pull the trigger. A shot resounded throughout the room.

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Haku stared at the body ground. It had taken a lot, but he’d finally killed the intruder. Without Chouji’s help, they would have all been dead! He then limped towards Zabuza's prone body. Please be alive…he turned the man around and looked into the beaten face.

“Good you’re alive…hold on.”

“Haku…”

“No, I don’t want you to speak. The ambulance is on its way and you will hold on!” Haku ripped off a part of his shirt and held it to the gaping wound in Zabuza’s stomach. “It’s only a wound…don’t you dare try to die from it!”

Zabuza smiled at him. “I won’t…”

Haku nodded. “Good…now when you get out of hospital, we’ll have to rent someplace, until we rebuild this…” he gestured to the rubble. His own wounds were beginning to hurt. “Then you will let me paint it any colour I want okay?”

“Any colour you want…”

“No one died. Everyone’s alive…I wouldn’t have thought that Akatsuki bastard would bring back up! But we’re still the greatest fighters…” Haku smiled.

“Yeah we are…I hope Naruto’s all right…”

Haku turned to see the paramedics running in. “You’ll be fine…he’ll be fine. You taught him after all. Now I’ll see you once you’re all stitched up…”

Haku let go of his lover’s hand. “Please be all right, Naruto. Best of luck…” then he turned to speak to the numerous police men who’d arrived.

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When the elevator doors opened, Kakashi saw that the door was half open. He ran to it and shoved it all the way open, Naruto right at his heels, when the shot rang out. The two men looked on his horror as Iruka jumped, sailing right in front of Sasuke, a look of pained determination on his face.

Sasuke saw the bullet go right through Iruka’s head, a neat hole forming in the man’s forehead as waves of his blood splashed onto Sasuke. The blood stained his pale blue shirt red, a bit of it splattering onto his face.

“IRUKA!” a raw scream erupted from Kakashi has he moved at a run to catch the chocolate haired man’s body as it fell. “No….Iruka…”

Naruto stared at the sight of Kakashi on the ground, cradling the body of one of his best friends. “Iruka…” he whispered and then his gaze shifted to Sasuke who was sitting like stone, oblivious to the tears running down his face. A deep calm filled Naruto…he had no choice anymore. He had to defeat this man that his father had become…he couldn’t hesitate anymore.

I’ll always love you, daddy! You’re my most precious thing Naruto-chan…I’ll never hurt you!

“Arashi…” it was the first time Naruto had ever used his father’s name without an honorific.

Arashi turned to regard his son. “Naruto…what have you done to yourself? You look terrible. We’ll have to dye your hair back to blond when we leave.”

“No, we won’t have to. I’m going to kill you right here…”

“Oh you will, will you? Come at me, son…let’s see what you’ve learnt.”

That was all he needed. Naruto flew at Arashi. They fought with quick moves. He kicked out, but Arashi blocked, he attacked with everything he had, but his father was fast at blocking. Frowning he brought his hands up to push the older man and with lighting speed he shifted and landed a punch on the older man’s right cheek. Arashi hit the wall, but used it to throw himself back at Naruto, who ducked and swung at him.

They moved fast and fluidly. Zabuza had taught him a tai chi move called single whip, which helped him deflect all Arashi’s moves and finally hit that pushed the man ten feet backwards. Arashi deflected it and kicked out, getting Naruto in the stomach. The blond rolled and got back onto his feet in time to stave off an oncoming blow. He snarled and fell onto his hands, bring his legs into Arashi’s chest.

The father staggered back, but moved forward in a blink of an eye. They wrestled, gripping each other’s arms until Naruto was forced onto the ground. He put his weight behind him and rolled pinning Arashi down instead. He punched the man. “How could you? You asshole! How could you just kill everyone who means something to me?”

Arashi wriggled out and shoved Naruto off him. He attacked his son at once, giving him no time to breath. All his punches and kicks connected, by the time he was done, Naruto had bruises and was bleeding in many places. And then he smiled and hit Naruto’s solar plexus as hard as he could without paralyzing or killing his son. Naruto stumbled back, coughing up blood…

Arashi brought the gun up again, but Naruto kicked it out of his hand, until it flew off and skittered somewhere. Arashi growled and backhanded Naruto hard…the younger man rolled until he hit the wall.

“Why do you keep fighting?”

Naruto groaned standing up, a hand over his stomach. He was gasping for breath. Through out this time he hadn’t even looked at Sasuke, preferring to immerse himself in the battle. He didn’t want to look at Sasuke right now…not when he was about to commit the foulest deed he ever had…never mind that Arashi was a mad man.

“I have to take you down…dad.”

“And why is that?”

Naruto snorted. “Like you don’t know…I have to stop you from killing anymore people…”

“I won’t. You know I’m only killing them because of you…because you won’t give yourself to me like you should! Kyuubi was a mistake…you didn’t put her in danger because you didn’t know. But look at the people in this room…you know what I want, but you still don’t mind putting them in danger because of your mule-headed-ness.”

Naruto let those words sink in. “You’re blaming me, for this?”

Arashi smirked. “Of course I am Naruto. If you were still ignorant, it would have been fine. But you knew…Iruka and Sai were sacrificed just because you refused to be mine…I’m sure Sasuke is cursing the day he met you!”

They both looked over at Sasuke, who was staring at the blood he’d wiped off his face. From his anguished look, Naruto felt more pain than he had. And then Sasuke looked at Naruto…a look filled with a touch of doubt…like he was questioning whether all this was worth their love…

“I’m right.” Arashi smiled. “You see son, even he doubts you. You should just give up Naruto. Come to me and I’ll let them both go. And who knows even your precious Zabuza and Haku might be alive.”

“Zabuza and Haku….” Naruto gulped. “What…what are you talking about?”

“You stayed with them, Naruto…they protected and hid you…you really think I’d let them go? No one you’re with is safe from me…” Arashi held out his hand. “Come to me…”

Come to me son…let me take care of that knee. You should never have gone that high on the swing Naruto…I warned you!

Thank you daddy! It hurts!

I’ll make it all better…I love you Naru…you’re the best son anyone could have!

You’re the best daddy in the whole world!

Don’t worry about mommy, kiddo…I love you. I’ll be there for you…

Naruto looked at Arashi, then at Sasuke who was looking at him stoically and finally at Kakashi who was still clinging to Iruka…

“I’ll even forgive the traitor Naruto…just give up.”

Looking at Arashi, a plan formed in Naruto’s mind. He steeled himself. “Fine, dad.”

Kakashi looked up at that…he looked from Naruto to Arashi…and then he looked behind Arashi. No, Naruto’s not going to…but I know he is! Shit no!

Why Kakashi was figuring things out Naruto had reached Arashi and put his arms around the older man’s waist. He kissed his father, feeling his hands run up and down his chest. Arashi’s fingers bunched in Naruto’s shirt, he was so immersed in the kiss that he didn’t realised what Naruto’d planned.

Sasuke watched the kiss shocked. Done! What the fuck are you doing! It hurt to see Naruto kissing Arashi of all people…he wanted to rip Arashi off him.

Then all at once Naruto slipped his hands onto Arashi’s ass and lifted him. He pulled away from the kiss and looked at Arashi his blue eyes chilling. “I have to take you down dad…so let’s go down together…” he lurched forwards a few steps taking them straight towards the French windows…the ones with no balcony or rail of any sort.

Sasuke cried out. “No…you’ll die…Naruto you idiot!”

Arashi stared at his son with wide eyes as he felt them hit the glass. Realisation dawned on him and he smiled. They went through the window fast and hung in the air for what seemed like hours. Naruto prepared himself to hit the ground, only to find some one’s arms around his feet. Kakashi had thrown himself onto the floor by the window and grabbed his feet as he’d flown out.

Arashi felt the shirt rip a bit as Naruto arms around him slackened as he came to a jarring halt. Blue eyes looked into blue…”you’ve won son…goodbye…” and the shirt ripped off as Arashi plummeted to the ground. He fell gracefully with no screams, as Kakashi yanked Naruto back inside.

“DAD!”

I love you too, daddy…

He watched his father hit the ground, but couldn’t hear the sound as it was too far below. A sob tore its way out of his throat. He was supposed to have died too! He felt Kakashi’s arms wrap around him as he sobbed into the chauffeur’s shirt.

He’d done it…his father was finally gone. He pulled away from Kakashi and knelt at the edge of the broken window, memories swamping his mind. Memories of Arashi and him at the park, them eating ice cream, his father comforting him when his mother left…Arashi crying in the night, when he though Naruto wasn’t watching; Arashi smiling at him at graduation, cuddling on his father’s lap during thunderstorms…thankfully there were more good memories than the bad ones. It was simple, his father had gone crazy…there was no better way to put it. This was better for everyone.

Sasuke stared at Naruto…everything had happened so quickly. Iruka and Sai were gone…Arashi had been killed…and Naruto was right there in front of him. Then why couldn’t he reach out to the blond? Suddenly it was like there was something between them…he didn’t know if that something could be pared. He couldn’t even find his voice to comfort the blond…

The police came in after half an hour. Naruto stood silently, letting them cuff him and take him away. Kakashi stayed by Iruka’s body. Sasuke was asked to come to the police station as well. The last he saw of Naruto that day was when he was walked to his cell.

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The trial went on for two weeks, once the numerous witnesses showed up and Zabuza sent a statement from the hospital, Naruto was cleared. The two saw the last of each other on the steps of the court house. Too much had happened to fall back into the old relationship…Sasuke’s doubt and Arashi’s death had broken Naruto. Iruka and Sai’s death had been too much Sasuke, knowing that somewhere he blamed the blond…however little, he turned away. They both went in opposite directions, Naruto to his house and Sasuke to the airport.

THE END (epilogue to come…)

CHAPTER EXPLANATIONS…WHY I DID WHAT I DID…

A/N: ok I’m crying now! Yes there is one more chapter…epilogue really.

I know I ended it sad, but that’s how it is. I mean I thought of how to make it happy, but it couldn’t happen. I hated killing Iruka, but honestly Sasuke couldn’t have dodged and Iruka isn’t the sort of man to stand by and watch.

At first I intended to kill Naruto with Arashi…but changed that when I realised Kakashi wouldn’t let that happen…he knows Naruto too well. And Arashi had to go.

The ending seems a bit more open ended…I wanted to work with a sequel if I could.

LASTLY I want to thank all of you for making this a great and wonderful story! Itachi and I are eternally gratefully! This is my first tragedy of sorts…so please tell me if it was tragic enough?

AND GIMME LAST REVIEWS BEFORE THE EPILOGUE; IF I GET ENOUGH I MIGHT MAKE THEM MEET!!

Thank you!