Spartan Ninjas (Abandoned WIP)

Disclaimer: We do not own or gain any profit from Naruto.
Reviews are welcome.

Author's Note: for further reference here is a key to help you follow the story:
::this:: is a character's own personal thoughts
"~this~" is speaking in Japanese

------------------------------------------------------

Spartan Ninjas
~ Chapter Sixteen ~
By: Cecilia Tsukineko and Kirei Kitsue

----------Friday Night----------
Sighing in frustration Naruto threw down the PS2 controller and shut off the console. Sasuke was yet again spending the entire day over at the Kellogg Center with Mikoto going over family things and Naruto was feeling lonely. He understood why Sasuke had to be over there and completely supported him, but that didn't stop him from missing all the time he normally spent with Sasuke during the day. Looking for company he stood up and went through the bathroom to see if Kiba wanted to hang out.

"Hi Naruto, bye Naruto," Kiba said as he dashed out the door, very much in a hurry.

"The hell?"

"His girlfriend just called him a second ago and asked him to do something. He might not be back tonight..." Shikamaru explained from his sprawl on the couch.

"Girlfriend? Since when does _Kiba_ have a girlfriend?!"

"Since a few weeks ago... they hooked up in one of their Veterinary-ish classes. Animal lovers..."

"Well damn..." Naruto scowled a bit. He was happy for Kiba but he really had wanted to hang out with him. "Hey Shikamaru, wanna do something?" Beggars can't be choosers, and at the moment Naruto was begging.

"Sleep," was the only answer Shikamaru ever really gave.

Naruto was about to snap at him when he heard his phone ringing. Hoping it was Sasuke saying he was coming home Naruto ran back through the bathroom to pick it up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Naruto," Clarissa's voice drifted through the phone, sounding a little distressed. "Are you available? Cuz... I really need help on our history reading..."

"Can it wait until Sunday?" Naruto asked, trying not to sound selfish, but he really wanted to be home and alone when Sasuke finally finished with Mikoto.

"I have to go home this weekend... I won't be back until late Sunday night... If you can't, that's okay... I'll figure it out. Eventually..."

Running a hand through his hair Naruto thought for a minute. ::Sasuke will understand if I'm helping her study... I can't just leave her hanging...:: He sighed. "Okay. My place?"

"Actually... and I feel really bad about asking you this... but I sprained my ankle doing yoga earlier today... and it really hurts. Do you think... maybe... you could come here?"

He sighed again. "Okay... Where do you live?"

"559 West McDonnell... Thank you so much, Naruto... You're a lifesaver!"

"Heh... See you in a bit, Clarissa." Naruto hung up the phone before he let his groan of frustration out. Study sessions with Clarissa tended to take forever because she was just not good at all at understanding a lot of the abstract concepts that went with a history class. Naruto wrote a quick note to Sasuke saying where he would be and taped it to Sasuke's monitor before leaving for the dorm next door.

It didn't take him long to find her room. "'Come on in'... 'erase this'..." he read on her whiteboard. Thinking nothing of it he just shrugged and erased the message, knocking before he opened the door. "Clarissa?"

"One sec," she called innocently from the bathroom, waiting until she heard the door click closed behind him and then she emerged in nothing. Literally. He'd come just far enough into the room that he was by the bathroom door, which put her between him and pulled out couch bed. Before he even had a chance to fully register that she was completely nude she reached for him. One of her hands grabbed the back of his neck, firmly pulling him to her while he was stunned and off-balance. The other hand caught one of his wrists and brought his hand to her breast, molding his fingers around soft flesh in a way that knowingly made her moan softly – too softly for anyone but Naruto to hear. And then her lips caught his and she pulled him with her as she toppled back onto the mattress, letting him fall right between spread legs that then locked tightly about him.

Naruto lay there for a long moment in shock, not responding to her at all, before he pulled away in a panic, landing in a heap on the floor. "Wha-wha-what the hell?!" he squeaked, turning bright red and scooting backwards on the floor like a crab. "What's gotten into you?!" His face turned even redder when he couldn't help but stare at her naked body... and he felt no reaction. Sure she was very nice to look at, but she wasn't his Sasuke.

She looked at him for a moment and then her eyes darkened. Completely gone was the sweet young woman she had seemed to be, and then she shrieked. "Rape!!" she screamed afterwards and she didn't stop screaming, smirking at the person standing wide-eyed in the doorway of her bathroom. She'd asked her suitemate over to unwittingly bear witness if Naruto refused. Had he accepted her advance she would have apologized to her suitemate later for the unexpected visit from her lover, but this - oh, this was her revenge, planned for the possibility of insulting rejection.

Looking very much like a terrified deer Naruto fled from the room, running home as fast as he could, hoping beyond hope that Sasuke had come home in the short amount of time he'd been gone. He hadn't done _anything_!! She'd said she wanted to study!! All he could feel was horrible panic and he didn't stop running because he knew that if he stopped he would start hyperventilating.

---

For the fifteenth time Sasuke assured Mikoto that he was fine and didn't need anything while opening his door when a small chill went down his spine. The door from the elevator lobby at the other end of the hall exploded open, permitting a full-out running Naruto through. Sasuke had turned instantly as though on instinct and, when Naruto got to him, caught the blond practically in mid-air, clutching him close and enfolding him in a tight secure embrace. "Naruto - What's wrong?" Sasuke asked, concern deep in his voice as he stroked the back of Naruto's head and neck soothingly. The blond was sweating like crazy.

"Ididn'tdoanythingIswearallofasuddenshestartedscreamingandIthoughtshewantedtostudyIdon'tknowwhatgotintoherbutthatwasdefinitelynotstudyingandshecaughtmebysurpriseand-!!!!" Naruto babbled without pausing to take a breath, clutching to Sasuke's shirt like a lifeline and his eyes huge with fright.

Mikoto just stared at the frantic blond, his brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to understand what he was saying.

When Naruto got like this... there were generally only two ways to shut him up. Hit him, or kiss him. Sasuke didn't think hitting him was very appropriate so the hand stroking the back of Naruto's head tangled long fingers in Naruto's hair and tipped his head back with gentle force and he kissed him, though briefly, before pulling away and immediately saying, "Shh." When he had searched Naruto's face and seen that some of the sheer panic had subsided, he said softly while loosing his hold in the back of Naruto's hair, "Tell me slowly what happened."

"She..." Naruto swallowed and gasped a bit, winded from both his flight and panic. "Clarissa called me over to study but when I got there she wasn't wearing anything and she pulled me onto the couch and before I could do anything she was kissing me and-" He stopped at the sound of the elevator lobby door opening and whipped his head around. Two police officers came into the hall and he went ghost pale.

"I still do not understand..." Mikoto muttered, Naruto having spoken too fast for him.

"Are you Naruto Uzumaki?" one of the officers asked as they walked up to them.

Immediately Sasuke put Naruto behind him, protecting him instantly on instinct. "He didn't do anything. That girl's lying," Sasuke stated coldly, his whole demeanor defying the cops to try and take his Naruto away from him. He didn't have time to explain anything to Mikoto right now and he couldn't even spare the man an acknowledging look for the time being.

The officer just raised an eyebrow and looked at him doubtingly. "There is an eye witness to the attempted sexual assault. We have to take him in."

"She said she needed help studying... I didn't do _anything_!" Naruto insisted from behind Sasuke, trembling in fear. He didn't want to go to jail!!

Sasuke's look darkened but he glowered at the men. They were doing their duty, he ground out in his own mind and then glanced quickly over his shoulder at Naruto. If they resisted more than they had it would definitely look even worse than it already did. Deciding quickly he turned his back on the cops and took Naruto by the shoulders, looking him in the eyes. "Trust me?" he whispered softly.

Well, that was a stupid question. Naruto nodded without hesitation. He trusted Sasuke with his life.

"Ano... I still do not understand..." Mikoto said, hoping someone would explain what was going on.

Sasuke kissed Naruto's forehead and pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him close to his chest with strong comforting arms, ignoring the cops. "~Naruto's being accused of sexual assault on a girl he's been tutoring these last few weeks or so,~" he explained in fluent and graceful Japanese so that Mikoto could make no mistake in the situation.

"Oh..." That effectively shut Mikoto up.

Naruto hugged Sasuke back even tighter, not wanting to let go at all. He was innocent!!

"As pretty as this picture is," the other officer said impatiently, "we need to take Uzumaki down to the station."

"Everything is going to be fine," Sasuke crooned to Naruto and pulled away enough to cup Naruto's chin and he lifted his face so their eyes met. "I promise." After holding Naruto's gaze and stroking his cheek with a gentle thumb Sasuke turned to the cops, keeping Naruto behind him. "We'll go, but you aren't cuffing him. And I'm riding with him." Sasuke was firm. There was no way in hell he would leave the only person he really loved right now in the hands of men who probably thought him entirely guilty. If Naruto was guilty, might that not - in their minds - excuse a little rudeness and roughness? Sasuke would go with him or there just might be a murder case or two to solve instead of a false cry of 'rape'.

The first cop was about to chew Sasuke out for being so uppity but the other one put a hand on his arm. "Just let him, Rob. This kid's the one who's in Kakashi's office all the time. And we have to cuff him," he added for Sasuke. "Procedure."

Shaking and still death-pale Naruto stepped out from behind Sasuke and didn't resist when they put the cuffs on him as they read him his rights. He didn't even listen to what they were saying, his mind having gone numb. The fear and panic had left him only to leave behind an almost paralyzing numbness.

"Is there anything you wish for me to do, sir? Any way I can help?" Mikoto asked Sasuke, concerned.

"There's nothing you can do, Mikoto, but thanks," Sasuke muttered and patted Mikoto's shoulder as he brushed by, taking Naruto's right side as one of the cops took careful hold of Naruto's left arm. Sasuke let Naruto get into the police car first and then slid in beside him, letting the officer shut the door so that he could turn his entire focus on Naruto, who he reached for and pull close to him, resting the bridge of his nose against Naruto's temple. "It'll be okay," he whispered.

"B-Baa-chan's g-gonna go n-nuclear," Naruto muttered, leaning into Sasuke.

"Then you shouldn't have tried to rape that girl," the gruffer of the two cops scolded.

"Shut up, Rob. Baa-chan?" the other one asked. He was beginning to feel a little sorry for Naruto, who looked like a rabbit with his foot caught in a trap.

"His grandmother," Sasuke said. "It's 'obaa' with a respectful or affectionate suffix in Japan. To me, because I never knew my grandmother, it would be 'obaa-san', but to Naruto, who was raised by his, it's 'baa-chan'," he explained, seeing a potential ally. He kissed the top of Naruto's head and whispered, "I'll take care of it. I promise." His right hand stroked Naruto's cheek with gentle fingers and then rubbed his arm, hugging him tightly.

"You don't look Japanese," the nicer cop said, not taking his eyes off the road as he drove towards the station.

"M'only a little bit... M'more mutt than anything else..." Naruto mumbled, very glad for a change in topic.

"Jesus, Mike, do you have to make friends with every-frickin'-body? And you," the cop called Rob said, looking in the rear-view mirror at Sasuke, "stop it with the fake queer act."

Sasuke's glare was icier than a glacier when he fixed it on Rob. "_Don't_ fuck with me. I'll have your badge so fast it will leave you spinning. That's discrimination," he said, his tone reaching near subzero level. He was more than pissed, for although his exterior was absolutely artic, his insides were lava-hot. Whoever had started this sick joke was going to regret thinking it up for the rest of their miserable life.

It was a very good thing that they pulled into the station just then because Rob was all ready to whip around in his seat and start a verbal war with Sasuke. "Just get inside and let the chief know we're back," Mike ordered his partner, knowing the warning signs of impending doom. He opened the back of the car and grabbed Naruto's forearm, pulling him out of the car. "C'mon, kid." He led the boys into the lobby and turned to Sasuke. "You're gonna have to stay here while we question him. Either that or you can go on ahead to Kakashi's office." Without waiting for Sasuke's answer he led Naruto into the back of the small station.

Naruto was led into a small room in the back, where Rob and... Clarissa were waiting for them. She had pulled some clothes on and was looking very bored sitting in a very uncomfortable chair. Naruto gave her the most venomous look he could, but the effect was rather diminished by his fright-pale face.

Mike sat Naruto in the other chair and cuffed him to the arms. They couldn't take any chances as long as Naruto was a suspect. "Alright. Now, one at a time, what happened?"

Naruto opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.

"He's just going to try and lie to you, Mike," Rob said roughly and slammed his palm on the metal table in front of Naruto. It was a tactic meant to get his attention completely in a very intimidating manner. Rob was no little man and he was towering over short, wrestler's body-style Naruto. "Why'd you do it? Did you think she'd be easy because she trusted you?"

Naruto jumped in his chair and turned even paler. "I didn't do _anything_!" he argued. "She asked for help on reading for our history class and I went over to help! That's it!"

Rolling his eyes at Rob's method Mike motioned for Clarissa to say something.

"We have the same history class," she said, sounding exactly like she was trying to sound calm. "I've been going to him for help, because it isn't my strongest subject... He seemed really nice at first, but then today I came out of the bathroom to get dressed and he was just... there! I think my roommate forgot to lock the door or something! The next thing I knew he'd thrown me on the bed and landed on top of me..." She turned her face away and bit her lip, looking for all the world like she was ready to breakdown and cry... when really she was fighting off a grin of absolute evil. ::No one says no to me... not even a cutie like you, Naruto Uzumaki.::

"And the witness? Who is she?"

"My suitemate. She has a single... I had asked her to come over and help me pick out an outfit for a date I had planned for tomorrow with an old friend of mine from high school..."

"You said you were going home for the weekend!" Naruto accused, his color finally coming back as he began to get furious at her. "You called me, asking for help on the reading! I didn't want to 'cause I wanted to wait at home for Sasuke to get back so I asked you if it could wait until Sunday! 'No, it can't. I'm going home and not gonna be back till late on Sunday,' you said! Then you asked me to go over to your place instead of studying at mine like usual 'cause you'd hurt your ankle in yoga! I went over and there was a note on the door telling me to just walk in so I did! You came out of the bathroom naked and pulled me on top of you on the couch! I jumped off and then you started screaming when your suitemate walked in!" he roared all in one breath, his eyes blazing with anger. How _dare_ she!!

Mike sighed and leaned on the wall. "Two completely different stories... one of you is lying." He looked back and forth between both of them, calculating and processing. Both of their stories were perfectly plausible...

Clarissa did burst into tears then and got to her feet in a rush. "How _dare_ you!? You - you..." she sobbed and turned away, sobbing into her hands.

Rob nodded to Mike to do his best to soothe the girl as he turned on Naruto. "It's slimeballs like you that make me the maddest," he growled and towered over Naruto. "You're going to jail... and do you know what the inmates do to guys who hurt women and kids?" Rob looked almost gleeful as he said it. He was going to intimidate a confession right out of Naruto.

Mike rubbed Clarissa's back soothingly and looked at the irate Naruto out of the corner of his eye. "If you'd just tell us the truth we might be able to give a couple breaks," he said to both of the students. He still wasn't sure which one to believe.

"Dammit, I AM telling the truth!!" Naruto yelled, glaring at Rob. "Besides, why would I want to rape her when I'm in a wonderful relationship with my roommate?! Just ask Kakashi!! He'll tell you that Sasuke and I are together!!" he insisted.

"But we're asking you, not him. You know, people in jail that have hurt women and children get as good as they've given... so if I were you... I'd tell the truth..." Rob insisted.

"I AM!!!!"

"Do you have to terrorize everybody who has the misfortune of meeting you, Rob?" Kakashi asked lazily as he walked in, Sasuke right behind him.

Rob looked up and scowled. "I don't believe we requested backup, Kakashi..."

Sasuke forwent everyone and headed right to Naruto, stopping beside him and asking immediately, "Naruto?" He didn't need to ask the whole question because he knew for a fact that his concern for Naruto was written all over his face and etched deeply into his eyes.

"Been better..." Naruto grumbled, looking up at Sasuke helplessly. He really wanted out of there.

Kakashi just continued to look lazy. "I know you didn't request back-up. I came by to make sure you're not trying to force confessions you think you should be getting again. The chief is tired of straightening up your messes. Besides, Naruto is a student of mine and I know for a fact he wouldn't try to rape anyone."

"But what reason would she have for lying?" Mike asked, sitting Clarissa back down and keeping a careful eye on his partner.

Sasuke nodded once and looked to Kakashi. "Does he really have to be cuffed like that?" His voice was hard.

Rob wasn't stupid. He would take it up with the chief later that Kakashi had knowingly interrupted an interrogation with a suspected rapist, so for now he let it go remaining quiet but for a soft snort.

"I'm _not_ lying!" Clarissa screamed, sounding panicked.

"You are!" Sasuke snapped back. "Who put you up to this? Was it Ino, or Sakura... or is this just because you're trying to get to one of us by getting the other either out of the way or upset enough for them to break it off?" Sasuke's eyes were hard as black diamonds. He knew the way these bitches thought and he was sick of ending up stirred into the mess... but more than that, he was pissed that Naruto was being brutally dragged into it all.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the mob that ganged up on Naruto at the beginning the semester, would it?" Kakashi asked, looking at Clarissa pointedly.

"Mob?" Mike said questioningly.

"Remember that report somebody filed on a huge mob of girls chasing a guy around?" When Mike nodded Kakashi continued with, "They were chasing Naruto. That entire group of girls wanted Sasuke for themselves and teamed up to get Naruto out of the picture since he's the one that's ended up with Sasuke."

"Ino was leading it, too..." Naruto grumbled, not very enthusiastic about being reminded of that night.

Mike sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Is the witness here?" he asked Rob.

"Yeah... I'll go get her..." Rob said and left, returning moments later with the girl who looked timid and a little skittish, but genuinely concerned and willing to help. "Her name's Maria."

"What did you see?" Sasuke asked her, though not harshly. He'd seen her around and was pretty sure she'd recognize him too.

"I... had just come through the bathroom because Clarissa had asked for my help on picking out an outfit for a date. I saw clothes strewn about the room, which wasn't normal for their room... and that boy there on top of her on the couch. She was naked, he wasn't. The next thing I knew they flew apart and he was on the floor and she was screaming rape..." Maria explained slowly, thinking her words through carefully.

"Naruto?" Sasuke asked, looking to Naruto. He wasn't touching the blond at the moment, afraid that if he reached for the blond right then without being specifically asked to comfort him, he'd grab the chains instead and try to break the cuffs.

::Tch... Who died and made that bastard boss?:: Still looking waterlogged Clarissa sniffled but focused on the goings on around her. She still felt she was on the winning end.

"Who the hell does this guy think he is?" Rob snapped, glaring at Sasuke. "Hey, _kid_! We're the professionals so why don't you just go wait outside."

"You're taking too damn long. Correlate the stories and see which ones match. If they don't match at all... move on to checking out the history of each person involved," Sasuke said firmly back. He wasn't going to take crap from anyone.

Mike put a hand on Rob's arm, stopping him before he could snap again. "The kid has a point, Rob. Let them talk. Naruto?"

"Like I said already, Clarissa pulled me down on top of her as soon as soon as she got out of the bathroom completely naked," Naruto growled, beginning to get very impatient. "I was caught off guard and it took me a sec before I knew what was going on and jumped off, landing on the floor. I screamed at _her_ before she started screaming." He glared at Clarissa.

"Did you hear Naruto say anything?" Kakashi asked Maria gently.

Feeling comfortable with Kakashi because she'd had him as a teacher, she answered confidently, "I only remember hearing the words 'the' and 'hell'... but I was so surprised by what I'd just walked in on that I couldn't process everything. I'll admit that the guy there looked a little odd for being an attacker. I thought it was odd how he looked more shocked... than anything..."

"I'd just bitten him to get him off of me! Of course he'd look shocked," Clarissa whimpered, sniffling pathetically.

"Where did you bite him?" Kakashi asked, his voice a little more steely now that he was talking to Clarissa.

"I don't know, but it wasn't very hard..." Sniffle. "Because I couldn't move very much."

Sasuke's hand caught Naruto's chin and he carefully examined Naruto's chin, cheeks, tongue and his lips inside and out with caressing and gentle fingers. Rob was looking over his shoulder impatiently, but Sasuke ignored him as he caressed Naruto's cheek in apology before leaning back. "Did she bite you Naruto?"

"No."

Mike was now quite suspicious of Clarissa's story and looked at her doubtingly. "Didn't bite him very hard? Then why did Maria see Naruto on the floor? If you hadn't bitten him very hard then that wouldn't have been enough reason for him to jump off."

"And besides," Kakashi added casually, "any bites you will find on Naruto are from Sasuke. You wouldn't believe some of the bruises they've given each other." He only grinned as Naruto turned bright red from embarrassment and glared at him.

Sasuke's fingers ran over the bruise on the underside on Naruto's jaw close to his ear lovingly and he winked at Naruto, trying to make him relax a little. With Kakashi and Sasuke there, Naruto was fine.

Naruto managed a tiny smile back, relaxing a bit at the feel of Sasuke's loving fingers on his face. Briefly he tilted his head into Sasuke's hand before looking at Clarissa expectantly for her answer. He wanted to see how she was going to pull herself out of this one.

Sasuke too turned his attention from the lovemark he'd left just the other morning while they'd been getting ready for class to the bitch at the other end of the table.

Clarissa sighed. "I was fighting him... maybe I hit him somewhere else too... I don't remember! I was about to be... to be..." She swallowed hard. "I just started fighting him."

Rob had been pretty quiet this whole time... listening. There were a lot of things being said... "Hey, how about we look a little deeper into this... We'll come back to the witness and victim tomorrow. I wanna talk to my partner and Kakashi alone... Lock him up!" he called to the guards outside the door. ::Lousy guys just let Kakashi and that kid waltz right on in... useless help these days...::

Sasuke looked to Kakashi. "I'll pay whatever amount for his immediate bail. He's _not_ staying in jail. They'll tear him apart in there."

"Put him in one of the empty cells," Kakashi amended, looking at the guards as they walked in. What he really wanted was for the boys to be sent to his office but it wasn't worth it to argue with Rob about locking Naruto up. If Sasuke yelled at him later then fine, but Kakashi was already on bad enough terms with Rob as it was. Besides, there was no bail on suspected rapists.

Mike uncuffed Naruto from the chair and passed him on to the guards after cuffing his hands together. He gave Naruto a sympathetic smile as he was led out.

Naruto didn't resist, but he did scowl. He was tired of this to no end.

"Then let me stay with him," Sasuke insisted. He didn't like the thought of Naruto alone and at the mercy of strangers.

Clarissa left at the insistence of Mike and Maria went after, both being escorted to their dorm rooms separately. They'd be guarded so that there was no chance of anything being falsified from what it might already be.

Kakashi told the guards to let Sasuke stay with Naruto and then closed the door of the interrogation room, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. "She's lying," he said flat out.

Rob grudgingly nodded. "I'm beginning to believe that... but I can't just let that kid go until I'm sure he's innocent myself... and I want to know what the hell is going on. What's the big deal? A mob and this - if this girl is putting on a show she's damned determined to be believed. The waterworks were impressive."

"Sasuke is good looking and rich," Kakashi explained. "He's the prince on a white horse every single girl wants but he shunned them all, picking instead his roommate - another guy. Not a few girls were extremely P.O.'d. I don't know if this girl was after Sasuke but..." He shrugged.

Mike nodded and chewed at his lip thoughtfully. "Sasuke asked her if anyone had put her up to it..."

Rob sighed. "Whatever. We have to call Uzumaki's next of kin and let them know where the kid is. We'll do some individual research tonight... I'll leave the family call to you, Mike. You'll be sweeter than me... and then tomorrow... maybe we'll catch her in a lie. We've got the initial story on tape. You know the only reason that Sasuke's gonna get to stay the night with that kid is because he's yours..." Rob grumbled and headed out the door, brushing by the silver-haired man. He expected Mike would follow until they reached the offices and then go make the phonecall, but Rob needed some coffee. It was getting late.

"Why do _I_ always have to call the family? I hate getting yelled at by parents who think their kids couldn't possibly do anything wrong..." Mike grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets and following Rob.

Kakashi headed for the holding area and quickly found Sasuke and Naruto in a cell towards the front of the room. "Hey guys."

"Are they letting me go home?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"Sorry, but you're going to have to stay the night," Kakashi said, sincerely apologetic. "Rob and Mike are going to get more information. Technically this is their case and I shouldn't have gotten in on it, but I know Rob would have torn you to shreds if I hadn't stepped in."

Naruto sighed in disappointment and slouched.

Sasuke turned from where he'd been standing, looking down at Naruto where he was sitting on the cot. Sasuke's gaze was direct, dominant, and solid. "We appreciate that you did, Kakashi. I'm assuming they're calling Arashi and Mika... so..." He looked to Naruto. "Do you want them to come out?"

"Absolutely not... Baa-chan will kill me for being thrown in jail even if I am innocent. Dad maybe. Depends on how he takes the phonecall." Naruto ran his hands through his messy hair and sighed. "This is such a mess..."

"Don't worry, boys, I'm going to make sure you're out of here as soon as possible," Kakashi assured.

Glancing at Kakashi, Sasuke gave his boss a quick nod and then settled on the cot next to Naruto, taking the blond into his arms and holding him tightly, tucking Naruto's head under his chin. "Thank you, Kakashi. I'll be getting a phonecall on my cell soon. Are they going to yell at me for having it?"

"Actually you shouldn't have it on you at all. Sorry, Sasuke, but I have to take it." Kakashi reached his hand into the cell. "It's up to you whether to leave it on."

Sasuke sighed and handed the cell from his pocket to Kakashi. "If it rings, answer it. If it's my family, explain that I'm away and give them your name. If it's Naruto's family, tell them not to worry and that we've got everything under control. Don't! Tell Mika that Naruto is staying the night in jail. She'll be here in the blink of an eye. Naruto's right and she'll be hell to deal with."

"Thanks a ton, Kakashi," Naruto said as the professor nodded in understanding and tucked the cell into his pocket.

"Just doing my job," Kakashi said with a smile. "I'd better go and see how Mike is faring. He hates calling family members. I'll be back as soon as I can." He left.

Sighing Naruto leaned against Sasuke's side. "Why me?" he moaned.

Sasuke was silent a moment and then kissed the top of Naruto's head. "I'm sorry..."

"S'not your fault. I was an idiot and ran when she started screaming." Naruto hugged Sasuke tight and buried his face in Sasuke's shoulder. He was very glad that the only other occupied cell at the moment was at the other end of the room and that its occupant appeared to be sleeping.

Sighing softly Sasuke nuzzled the top of Naruto's head again. "It's not your fault either. It's hers... and probably whoever got her to do it..." he said, sounding entirely suspicious. With a light squeezing to warn Naruto, Sasuke pulled him back until Sasuke's back rested against the wall. "Get some rest, koibitto. I'll wake you up if Kakashi comes back. You're more tired than you think you are."

Naruto nodded and let go of Sasuke to stretch out on the cot, using Sasuke's lap as a pillow. He fell asleep almost instantly.

---

Dreading it Mike dialed Naruto's home phone and waited. "Hello. I'm looking for a Mika Uzumaki," he said when the other end picked up.

"This is she. To whom am I speaking?" she asked politely.

"Hello ma'am. This is Sergeant Mike Bradley from the MSU police department. I'm afraid your grandson has gotten himself into a bit of trouble." He braced himself.

The other end was silent for a long moment as it sank in just who was calling and then Mike could hear her yell, "Arashi! Pick up the phone in my bedroom! Your son's gone and gotten himself _arrested_!" She sounded ready to blow a fuse.

"Hello? This is Arashi Uzumaki, Naruto's father. What seems to be the problem?"

Mike introduced himself again and quickly explained the situation, holding the phone away from his ear as Mika exploded.

"HE'S BEEN ACCUSED OF _WHAT_?!?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?! HE WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING!!!"

_This_ was why Mike hated making these phonecalls...

"Mom! Shut up!" Arashi said instantly, the millisecond Mika paused for breath. "You aren't helping..." And then he turned his attention back to Sergeant Mike Bradley. "You have to understand, officer, that it's entirely impossible for my son to have attempted to rape that young girl. He's gay. He and his roommate have been in a solid relationship for the last several months and - although it isn't impossible for relationships to go bad - this one is a little unusual. Naruto and Sasuke are actually in love."

"So I've heard," Mike said as he put the phone back to his ear. "At least the relationship part. We are looking into this as I speak and if Naruto is innocent like everyone except the accuser keeps insisting then we'll let him go without any charges. This phonecall is more procedure than anything else. As it is he is going to have to stay the night here at the station as we sort all the details out."

Kakashi walked into Mike's office just in time to hear that last sentence and groaned. So much for Sasuke's warning.

"No he is NOT!!" Mika roared. "You will let him go back to his dorm room this instant!!"

"Ma'am-"

Again, the commanding voice that was attention-grabbing, ordering with the expectation of being obeyed, and yet respectful all at once sounded clearly over the phone. "Mom! Stop it," Arashi said firmly and then to Mike he asked, "Is Sasuke with him?"

"Yes. They were put in one of the empty cells." Mike gave Kakashi a weird look as Kakashi groaned again.

Mika didn't get a chance to scream again as Arashi cut her off.

"Then it's fine. Tell my son that I'll be there in the morning. There's nothing that can be done tonight by me coming out. Also tell him that his grandmother _won't_ be coming. Thank you. I'd advise you to hang up right now."

Mike took Arashi's advice gratefully, especially when he could hear Mika yelling even just before the phone landed in the cradle and hung up. "I need to transfer into another department..." he grumbled. "I hate making these calls."

"Why do you think I deal mostly with dead people?" Kakashi asked rhetorically. "So what did they say?"

"Naruto's father is going to come here tomorrow but not his grandmother. His father was really calm about the whole thing while his grandmother would have eaten my head if she was standing right here."

"Okay." Kakashi left to give Sasuke the update. He wasn't surprised to find Naruto asleep and shook his head when Sasuke moved to wake him up. "Don't bother, he needs the sleep. He probably wore himself out."

"So what's the news then?" Sasuke asked as he settled back into his comfortable lean again and resumed stroking his fingers through Naruto's hair lightly.

"His father's coming tomorrow but his grandmother isn't."

Sasuke nodded. "Good. Mika is a little overprotective and overdramatic. Arashi's level-headed to a fault," Sasuke murmured and looked down at Naruto sleeping in his lap. "Thank you," he murmured to Kakashi after a moment's thought.

"Yeah, Mike said his dad was really calm over the phone. And like I said before, just doing my job. Besides, I like you kids. You think I'd leave you hanging?" Kakashi smiled and stuck his hands in his pockets. "You should be able to leave by noon tomorrow. I want to get this girl for pulling such a damned stunt as soon as possible before she can cook up more details." He sighed. "As if we don't have enough things to deal with here already... and false accusations are always so _messy_."

Sasuke nodded and let his fingers drift over the relaxed features of Naruto's sleeping face. He was focusing entirely on Kakashi, so he wasn't watching what he was doing, but his fingers never missed a feature before slipping back into Naruto's hair. "Sorry to cause the trouble... If I have my way, that girl's going to be doing at least some community service. We are pressing charges if we can."

"You have every right to, and you'll most likely win. And the least she's going to get for a false accusation of rape is a few months' jail time and then lots of community service. So will anyone else who was an accomplice, if she had any. False accusations, especially ones of this nature, are _not_ taken lightly."

Sasuke nodded. It didn't surprise him. His face softened as he looked down at Naruto and brushed gentle fingers over the other young man's brow, pushing the hair that spilled there in messy spikes around lovingly. "He doesn't deserve this... And it's my fault for dragging him into it... I bet you we'll find out this had something to do with me in the end. His life's gotten more troublesome since I came into it." It was almost as though he were talking more to himself than to Kakashi.

"But he hasn't left you yet," Kakashi said with a smirk, leaning on the bar that ran parallel to the floor and sticking his arms through the vertical bars.

"As selfish as it sounds... I hope he never does," Sasuke murmured, his eyes still on Naruto.

"If he hasn't by now he probably won't," Kakashi said confidently.

Sasuke nodded a little and went back to running his fingers through Naruto's hair repeatedly, stroking his lover like he might have a cat. "I hope you're right," he muttered, looking up to Kakashi. "I know that there's work you could be doing instead of standing here staring at us. We're fine if you want to leave."

"But I don't want to do work..." Kakashi muttered, standing up straight again and making a face.

"And yet you want to catch Itachi..." Sasuke murmured. It was late and he was ready for a little sleep himself. The stress of the day was starting to catch up with him too. Gently he shook Naruto's shoulder, intending only to wake him up enough to stretch out side by side with him for some rest himself. "Naruto..." he murmured softly.

Moaning quietly in protest to being woken up Naruto curled up, the result being that his head fell of Sasuke's thigh.

Kakashi chuckled. "I'll leave you boys alone now. I have to go help Rob and Mike now anyway. I'll wake you up when I have an update on the situation."

Sasuke nodded and murmured a thanks as he stretched out between Naruto and the cell door. If anyone came in for Naruto, they'd have to go through him first. Carefully he pulled the blond to his chest, at the same time scooting closer so that they rested in the middle of the cot. Bring up his leg Sasuke used his heel to pull Naruto's right knee between his own lower thighs and then let his own leg drop on top of Naruto's so that their legs were twined together. Resting his chin on Naruto's head he closed his eyes.

------------Hours Later------------
Mike sighed and leaned back in his chair. They had just finished a long interview with Maria and it was crystal clear now that Naruto was indeed innocent. "So now what? Clarissa made it very clear that she wanted to be believed..."

"We question her individually, let her know that there isn't a doubt that she's lying. If she is 'working for someone' maybe she'll spill the beans. It's possible. That Uchiha kid has some bad Karma or something." Rob muttered the last sentence almost to himself.

"So call her back now or wait till morning?" Kakashi asked, looking at the clock. It was almost one in the morning. "I would prefer now... just to get it over with."

Rob nodded. "Mike and I will take Maria home and pick Clarissa up. Let's go, Mike," he said, standing. The sooner they got this business over with the happier he'd be.

"Alright. I'll go fill the chief in on what we've done so far," Kakashi offered.

When Mike and Rob came back, Kakashi wasn't surprised that Clarissa looked nervous. Her story had been beginning to fall apart last time they'd questioned her and she probably hadn't thought of any ways to fix it. Wordlessly Kakashi led the group into the interrogation room and leaned against the wall.

Mike sat her down in the chair and folded his arms. "Continuing from where we left off last time. You said you bit Naruto and began to fight him. And yet Naruto doesn't have any fresh bruises or scrapes..." He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I told you I couldn't move very well. I don't know if I hit him or bit him harder enough to leave any..." Clarissa stated and left it at that.

"Yet you had your legs wrapped around him and were holding his hair... Seems to me you could move just fine," Kakashi said causally, staring up at the ceiling.

Clarissa sighed and buckled. If she stopped now there might be a chance to at least save herself a little grief... not to mention face. "Look... I was asked to make his life a living hell, but the little bimbo kept rushing me. I was only doing what I was asked."

"Bimbo?" Mike asked, glad they were finally getting somewhere.

"Her name is Ino Yamanaka. She's had it in for Sasuke for years from what she said. I told her that I walked in on them, which I really never did, and she got soooo pissed..."

Rob stood. "You guys keep up with this. I'll go bring her in..." He turned and left without another word.

Kakashi nodded at Rob and asked Clarissa, "Why did you go along with it?"

"She paid me," the girl said with a shrug. "And it was _good_ money."

"What exactly did she pay you for? What was the 'job' description she gave you?" Mike asked.

"To woo Naruto away from Sasuke, or to at least get him lusting enough to make the big mistake of cheating and having Sasuke get pissed. I think she had dreams of grandeur there... the whole 'friendly comfort' way of thinking..." Clarissa made it very obvious that she was more than willing to talk now that the gig was up.

Kakashi sighed and shook his head. "Sounds like Ino alright... How long she been paying you to do this?"

Clarissa thought a moment and tallied it all up. "She's been paying me about three-hundred dollars weekly for the last month and a half."

Kakashi's eyebrows shot up as Mike looked surprised. "Three hundred a week?! Man, somebody's desperate..."

"I think we've heard enough," Kakashi said. "Mike, you go ahead and take her to the back. I'll wait here for Rob and Ino."

"Sure thing." Mike stood up and pulled a set of cuffs out of his pocket.

"Wait... Wait a minute! Why do I have to go to the back?! I told you everything!" she exclaimed, getting to her feet in a hurry.

"That doesn't mean there won't be charges. It just means the charges won't be as severe," Kakashi explained calmly. "You falsely accused someone of sexual assault and that is a serious offense. Not only did you put Naruto's record in danger but you also wasted a lot of our time. Time that would have been much better spent working on solving actual crimes."

"Don't make this harder than it has to be," Mike advised as he grabbed her wrists and cuffed her before she could pull away.

Screaming in outrage, Clarissa was cuffed and hauled to the cells, effectively waking Naruto and Sasuke up, though she didn't notice them.

Sasuke lifted his head and looked over his shoulder at her as she tried to run out of the jail cell. Mike of course shut the door before she could get there from the back of the cell. Silently Sasuke glared at her, ignoring the twinge in his neck from holding his head up like that.

"Mmmmm... make her b'quiet..." Naruto muttered sleepily, hugging Sasuke tighter and cuddling closer. He was very comfortable - not as comfortable as he would have been back home on their own bed - but Sasuke was there and that was all that mattered.

Mike didn't even respond to Clarissa at all after locking her up, walking calmly towards the boys' cell. "I'm gonna unlock this so you can get out and use the bathroom and stuff. We've already determined for certain that Naruto's innocent. It's up to you guys if you want to just keep sleeping here or go home."

"We're going home," Sasuke said firmly. "Why the hell would we want to stay?" he added, though he was smirking. He'd known all along and he couldn't help but be a little smug about it. "I'll call Naruto's dad and let him know to meet us at the dorm so don't worry about it. Where's Kakashi?"

"Waiting for Rob to get back. He went to fetch Ino. Apparently she was the one paying her," Mike jabbed his thumb in Clarissa's direction, still ignoring her shrieks of outrage, "to somehow break the two of you up so this Ino could have you to herself."

Sasuke's face turned incredibly dark. "I told you..." he grumbled and sat up. "Tell Kakashi he's giving us a ride home... If he argues tell him I said Itachi hasn't shown up in a while and with the way things have been going it wouldn't surprise me for him to show up tonight of all nights." Then he turned his attention to Naruto. "Naruto... time to get up."

"Nngh..." Zombie-like Naruto untangled himself from Sasuke and sat up, blinking sleepily. Slowly he stood up and shuffled towards the door, running into the door jab before actually making it out. As soon as they got home he was going to fall dead asleep again.

Mike chuckled and walked out of the holding area after shooting a, "Shut up already, will you!" over his shoulder at Clarissa. He went to find Kakashi and deliver Sasuke's message.

Immediately Sasuke took up Naruto's side and took his elbow. "This way, koi," he murmured and steered Naruto towards the exit and out into the hallways.

"I _have_ to drive you home?" Kakashi asked amusedly, pushing off the wall in the hallway just outside the offices as Sasuke and Naruto walked up.

"I'll say please now... So, please take us home. There's no way we would be able to walk," Sasuke amended as he walked past Kakashi, afraid to stop Naruto. They were on their way out the door when Sasuke got fed-up with steering and simply bent over and lifted Naruto into his arms to carry him the rest of the way to the car. He completely ignored the slight protest of his arm. Naruto promptly curled up and burrowed into Sasuke's chest, fast asleep again.

Chuckling Kakashi led them out to his car just as Rob was pulling in. "I'm going to take them home. Go ahead and start without me," he called.

As Ino was pulled out of the back of the police car she spotted the boys and felt fury wash over her. She grimaced at the sight of Naruto in Sasuke's arms and if it hadn't been for Rob holding her arm she would have dove forward to knock Naruto away.

Kissing Naruto's forehead, Sasuke ignored Ino's presence completely, heading right for the car and getting in with Naruto in his lap. The drive was a ten-fifteen minute shortie and there was practically no one about.

"Do you want me to go up with you or are you okay?" Kakashi asked as he pulled up in front of Holmes Hall.

"If you could just come up and open doors for me..." Sasuke murmured, getting out with a little difficulty. He managed and then he was heading up the stairs and letting Kakashi dig the keys out of Naruto's oversized pocket. "My cell please... so I can call Arashi...." he asked when he'd stepped into the room and laid Naruto onto the bed. He turned to Kakashi. "Thank you..."

"No problem. I'm just glad we were able to take care of this so quickly. That witness really helped." Kakashi pulled Sasuke's cell out of his pocket and handed it to him. "I'll call or come by some time tomorrow to let you know what's going to happen to those girls."

"Great. Thanks, Kakashi. I owe you," Sasuke muttered as he walked the man to the door. He really wanted to go back to bed but he had a phonecall to make first.

"Don't worry about it. Talk to you tomorrow." Kakashi waved as he walked out of the hall.

Sasuke waved back, muttered goodbye and then locked the doors. Then he turned and stared into the room vacantly as he dialed the number to Naruto's house. Arashi answered with a calm, "Hello," which Sasuke returned before explaining the situation.

When Sasuke had finished, Arashi simply nodded to himself. "Glad to hear it. I'll still come out tomorrow and make sure that everything is cleared up. I'll take you two out to lunch, ne?"

"Yeah..." Sasuke muttered and then yawned. "I'll see you then." He waited until Arashi had said goodnight before hanging up. Then he turned to look at Naruto.

Naruto was watching him with mostly-asleep eyes. He wanted Sasuke to come to bed already so he could go back into a deep sleep. "You done yet?" he mumbled.

"No," Sasuke muttered and headed into the bathroom with his PJs. He emerged minutes later, having used the bathroom and changed for bed hoping Naruto would do the same so that Sasuke didn't have to feel too-baggy jeans and a t-shirt all night. He himself was wearing a black pair of pants and nothing else.

The blond was curled up under the covers so that only his mop of hair showed, a pile of clothes on the floor at the head of the bed. He'd pick it up in the morning. "You done yet?" he mumbled again as he poked the top half of his head out, his voice muffled by the comforter.

"Ha~..." Sasuke muttered and slid into bed quickly beside Naruto, stretching out on his back and sighing with comfort. Jail cots sucked.

"Good." Naruto scooted over and lay against Sasuke's side, using his shoulder as a pillow and draping an arm over his chest. "Night," he yawned, snuggling close.

"Oyasumi, koi..." Sasuke mumbled and wrapped an arm about Naruto's shoulders. The cast was an afterthought these days and he just couldn't wait to get it off.

TBC...