Colors

*Authors Note: Sorry for the drama last week but that’s how my fucked up brain works at times. ~Milktea~ I just hope you continue to have a fun read and if you could leave that contact for me to ask you about what you meant in the review, please do. I just need clarification on what you meant. Anyway, your review has also led me to carefully analyze my stories to avoid rushing and having not thought through enough on each chapter. So because of yours and everyone’s comments, I will make it a point to improve on my next fic and ensure that each new story I produce only gets better. Thanks again and I promise, no more re-editing causing thread bumps. If I wanna re-edit, I’ll do it when I’m making an update so that I get all the edits in at the same time.

Oh well having said all that, it’s finally here, the mother of all chapters (for me that is). I spent as much time as I could perfecting it by going through every single word and making sure I didn’t have to make a single edit, I hope. But as for the plot, it was pretty much fixed already so I don’t think I can change much and I deeply apologize for disappointing some of you. Anyway, I wanted this chapter to be as close to what I could see and feel in my mind but I’m not sure if I did a good job, although I did enjoy writing it very much. Do feel free to provide your thoughts. I will try very hard not to let my fragile personality get the better of me when you make remarks and go into another drama queen episode. My fingers are crossed as you read.

Apologies if there are errors, I'm doing these edits really late at night and I'm seriously lacking sleep.

Cheers :)

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Chapter 16

Naruto looked at the curious faces staring back at him. A couple of his team mates had overheard the question and were beginning to murmur silently amongst themselves. It was starting to look like Naruto had betrayed them by hiding behind a perverse side of his life; the odd faces serving to draw up the familiar fear of being socially discarded and making his skin crawl unpleasantly. This led him to remember images of the people who sneered and jeered at him during his younger days, which was something he had been trying desperately for years to lock away. His breathing quickened, *No, not this, anything but this.* He prayed for a rescue, a sign, anyting that would crane him out from this highly awkward situation and the embarrassment of having to explain. He looked towards Neji and then to Shikamaru for help, his face desperate.

“Puh-lease, if Naruto was gay I’d jump him already.” Neji finally voiced loud enough for everyone to hear. Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to say his thanks but quickly bit back the words and settled for giving Neji a wide-eyed look accompanied by a slight twitch of his lips instead. Satisfied with the reply, the rest of the team reverted back to their respective conversations and drunken stupor, all except Hinata who refused to retreat unless given further explanation. She was just about to open her mouth to ask again when a familiar looking individual appeared at the scene.

“Err… hi.” Sasuke greeted shyly with his hands in his pockets. He recognized the faces but had forgotten most of their names. He had never gotten close enough to bother with remembering but all the same, he secretly hoped they wouldn’t find out. It wasn’t that he was too cocky or snobbish about the name game. It was because he knew that even if he got close enough to foster any friendships, his brother would remove the ties anyway, thus rendering the need to remember names useless. But now that he had approached them and they were Naruto’s friends, he didn’t want to appear to be such a dick and he dug his memory for what he could remember. *Hmm, that’s definitely Neji and Hinata…. I think that’s Shika….. damn, can’t remember and that must be the dog boy. Oh God, what’s dog boy’s name?*

“Sasuke, erm… well… what are you doing here?” Naruto gave a one sided smile that showed both enthusiasm and concern having the dark prince interact with him. He wondered if Itachi would give the order to shoot him for this, but at the same time, the handsome figure’s close presence in itself was already a gun shot through his heart.

“Just wondering if I could borrow you for a bit?” Sasuke gave Naruto a warm charming smile which caused the blonde to recede into a melted puddle of wax.

Naruto cleared his throat. “Oh, erm…” He was trying desperately to hide his flushed cheeks, which not only was suspicious, but also posed as a potential answer to Hinata’s suspended question. With quick thinking he chose to introduce each person seated at the table as a distraction and Sasuke thanked him inwardly for having mentioned each of their names.

“You all remember Uchiha Sasuke from school don’t you?”

Kiba looked disinterested, Hinata smiled gently and nodded, Neji let out a long sigh whilst avoiding Sasuke’s direction and only Shikamaru put out his hand towards him for a shake.

“This is Temari, my chic.”

“Hey, pleased to meet you.” She greeted warmly and Sasuke was relieved that not everyone at the table was as apprehensive about him butting in.

“Nice to meet you too…. Erm.. Great seeing you all again.” Sasuke replied with a gentle but awkward smile on his face, a small sign of discomfort which Shikamaru’s keen eye noted.

“Naruto, why don’t you go along with Sasuke and just call it a night. All you drivers need to hit the sack early anyway and the rest of the gang doesn’t seem to want to leave yet.” Shikamaru coaxed.

Naruto hesitated. He had never been so nervous in his life and was partly wishing that Shikamaru never made the suggestion. In fact, he was rather confounded that his friend was fully aware of the fact that he could’ve been sending Naruto to his grave. He hoped indeed that Shikamaru hadn’t already done so. But before he could give his potential demise further thought, Sasuke put his hand on his shoulder and bent down to whisper into his ear, “It’s alright. The watch is busy for now.” Sasuke stood up again and cocked his head towards the direction of his table. Naruto observed the roudy crowd, the noise and a very pissed individual singing completely out of tune Enkas in the center. Naruto giggled, *That person’s gonna be so fucked-up by morning.*

“Come on, let’s go. See ya all tomorrow.” With that Naruto waved goodbye to his friends and gave a small smile before leaving with his ‘lone wolf’.

After their friend’s departure, Kiba was the first to speak-up, “Ok you two…. fucking spit it out right now. What’s Naruto doing with Uchiha Sasuke of all bloody freaking people?” Kiba was furious and Hinata was equally urgent to know. Neji kept his gaze away from his friends and stared blankly into the crowd. Shikamaru looked at Neji, aware that his friend was still hurt and realized that it would be some time before he could fully accept Naruto’s decision. He analyzed briefly if it would be appropriate to talk about the subject matter now.

“Sigh…. Talk about troublesome.” Shikamaru sighed loudly and rolled his eyes.

“Oh come on babe, just tell them.” Temari urged him. Shikamaru gave her a displeased look and then turned back to face his friends, “Sigh…….. Really troublesome.”

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Naruto hailed a cab as they exited the Japanese restaurant while Sasuke flipped the collar of his black jacket upwards to keep his face partially covered. It was decided that they would head back to Naruto’s place instead to avoid the interrogations Kisame would likely conduct amongst the hotel’s staff, especially after waking up the next morning and finding a gaping hole in his memory bank. Deidara had offered to pick Sasuke up from Naruto’s place before dawn, their arrival with a passed-out Kisame at the hotel together serving to create additional cover up for any potential doubts the shark man would have about the young Uchiha. Of course, if he tried to pose any further problems, Sasuke could pull out his trump card and use the threat of informing his brother about Kisame’s drunken exploit to ensure he would permanently shut up, thus eliminating any unwanted discovery and proof of their affair, for now.

Although a clear path had been provided for their illicit rendezvouz, both were still fearful of what the future had to hold. The air was tense as the two men sat silently side by side wallowing in their own troubled thoughts in the taxi heading towards Neji’s ryokan. Neither had any idea what the other pondered on, but they could fairly guess the excitement, the fear and the emotional storm building inside their highly aroused bodies. Even the taxi’s loud scratchy radio seemed like distant static to them as they stared out of the car’s windows, trying their best to look as comfortable as they could under pressured circumstances.

The atmosphere was getting heavier each minute as both men strived to calm their nerves. However, of the two, it was Naruto who was mustering every ounce of will to stop himself from crying out in confused agony and pouncing onto the sinfully beautiful angel next to him. He had been heaving several sighs and his heart was beating so hard against his chest that it ached. Engrossed in his thoughts, he wondered if he could live up to his promises, if he could really find a way and even if he did, he wondered if society and his friends would shun him for being gay. Unfortunately, he had made that promise and even if it was due to the spur of the moment, he would live up to it. After all, he couldn’t possibly deny the emotions that Sasuke made him feel and the fact that he’d finally gain his acceptance. He closed his eyes and let out yet another breath, which he realized he had been holding in unconsciously. He had never had such an intense experience in his life before and the fact that it involved another man was gnawing at his conscience. He swallowed and licked his dry lips as his fingers fiddled with his collar anxiously.

As if sensing his partner’s call for comfort, Sasuke slowly inched his left hand toward’s Naruto’s tanned firm one and as soon as their fingers touched, they entwined them into a firm grasp. So tight was the grasp that their fingertips were slowly turning blue, but that didn’t matter to them. What mattered was in that single action, they were connected, they had each other and their thirst for closeness was momentarily quenched. It was then that the two realized the path they had taken and that there was no rewinding now.

“We’ve reached sirs,” the cab driver announced, breaking the enclosed world that they had been wrapped in only moments ago.

“Thanks,” they paid the driver and stepped out of the cab.

Once outside, Sasuke turned to faced Naruto and was instantly charmed by his alluring blue eyes. He smiled softly at him earning him one in return from the gorgeous blonde. Naruto lowered his gaze to search for Sasuke’s hand once more and in finding it, took hold and led him into the ryokan. Sasuke followed closely at his heels as they weaved in through the corridors, passing by unsuspecting servants silently until they reached Naruto’s room, the place where they would soon be relishing in each other’s presence together, alone.

Naruto shuddered at the thought of Sasuke’s naked form as he entered. He let go of his hand as he turned to lock the door, its click echoing throughout the dark silent room that was faintly lit by the rays from a full moon shining through the verandah’s opened sliding doors. Naruto reached for the light switch but stopped when Sasuke placed a hand gently on his.

“Don’t,” Sasuke spoke, his black eyes slightly glazed. “I… I don’t want you to see it…”

Naruto realized in horror what Sasuke was speaking off. The cruel marks that his brother had left him would’ve still been visible on his pale white skin and Sasuke didn’t want them to be seen especially not by him. Naruto closed his eyes and gritted his teeth with that thought. He lowered his hand which he held clenched in a tight fist.

And then, Sasuke’s hand was on Naruto’s cheek, softly caressing his beautifully chiseled jaw. They inched closer and Naruto’s arms went around Sasuke’s waist, their breaths brushed over each other’s faces sending ripples of delight throughout their bodies. Casting their fears aside, they finally gave into their ignited desires closing off the remaining space in a hungry kiss, Sasuke pressing his lips against Naruto’s hard. The dark angel entangled a fist in Naruto’s lucscious locks whilst he licked his lover’s slightly chapped lips seeking entrance. Naruto finally gave him invitation and moaned as Sasuke skillfully massaged his tongue and savoured the taste, Naruto’s taste. Not wanting to be outdone by Sasuke’s show of domination, the blonde broke the kiss only to dive into Sasuke’s mouth with his own show of mastery.

They parted again, this time, panting heavily as their ardor took full control of their actions. Naruto pushed Sasuke’s jacket aside roughly and it fell to the floor as the dark prince in turn put his hands under Naruto’s shirt, searching to pull the hindering piece of cloth over his lover’s head. All the while they tried their best to keep their lips together amidst the frenzied passion. As Naruto’s body burst into flames with the contact from Sasuke’s hands gracing his nipples, he stood back and removed his shirt. With his upper body bare Sasuke could no longer hold out his desire to take the blonde into the further depths of pleasures. He pushed Naruto’s back against the door and bent down to kiss and suck on his neck, whilst a hand found a nipple to tug and tease playfully. “Mmmf…” Naruto moaned as the pain and pleasure translated into a surge that further awakened his hardening cock.

Sasuke shifted to bite onto Naruto’s neck hard, stopping just as he heard the blonde’s breath hitch. He sucked onto the bruised skin and licked it before shifting his kisses upwards along Naruto’s jaw and moving in further towards Naruto’s ear giving it a gentle blow. “Did I tell you how amazingly sexy you always look,” he whispered and Naruto’s senses tingled from his ear, to the back of his neck and down his spine. “I.. ah”, Naruto was about to reply but was cut off when he felt Sasuke’s hand grasp onto his aching member, stroking it along with the fabric whilst Sasuke ground his own arousal against Naruto’s thigh, their soft moans heard throughout the room’s confines with the pleasurable friction and heightened sensations. But Naruto wanted more, wanted to feel his skin against Sasuke’s body and he pushed Sasuke off gently. He tugged onto his mandarin collar and easily ripped the Velcro but was surprised when Sasuke backed off abruptly and turned to walk away from him, his back facing Naruto as he paused in the center of the room.

“Sasuke?”

The dark prince stood silent for a moment, a blank stare on his face. He had never been with anyone else but his brother, but he felt slutty and he didn’t want Naruto to touch him. To him Naruto was pure, whereas he had been marked. He spoke in a choked voice, “Naruto, its not only these scars I’m afraid to show, its what you don’t see that’s worse…I’m really….I’m.. so tainted….”

*Oh Sasuke, don’t tell me….* Naruto closed his eyes and fought the mental image of Itachi doing more than was fathomable as he took in a deep breath to quell the burning anger fueled by jealousy and hate. He opened his eyes taking in Sasuke’s defeated state and the flames subsided, replaced instead by an overwhelming sadness. He approached Sasuke and held him firmly from behind. He nuzzled his face into the back of Sasuke’s neck and it was all he could do to not join Sasuke’s beaten form in shedding tears.

“Sasuke, I’ve never broken a promise. If I said I’d find a way I will. But if you’re not ready we don’t need to do this.” Naruto spoke gently, his voice low and although he was himself unsure of the whole situation and confused about the way his body reacted with each touch, the blonde wanted to fill that empty void which flickered in his lover’s eyes.

Sasuke turned to face Naruto and in looking at his earnest expression gave into his own wishful vulnerability. Slowly, he stepped back and stripped his shirt, undoing the buttons in a gesture that increased Naruto’s anxiety with each slow motion pop. He finally finished and Naruto watched as the shirt fell to the floor to reveal the visible math of Itachi’s torture. Even with the moon’s dim lighting, Naruto could make out the scractches, the dark patches of large and small bruises, the discoloration from wounds not yet fully healed and finally, the glistening trails of tears down Sasuke’s cheeks.

Naruto could bear it no longer. The marks of Itachi’s tormet upon Sasuke’s once perfect skin racked his heart painfully. He stepped towards Sasuke and hugged him, his sudden weight causing Sasuke’s knees to buckle and he collapsed onto the futon bringing Naruto with him. They locked themselves in even fiercer kisses with Naruto wanting to rip every single bit of pain from Sasuke’s body. He shifted his kisses to nibble against Sasuke’s neck and continued to move downwards. Slowly but gently, he licked Sasuke’s chest wounds. The soreness and wetness of Naruto’s gesture combining to create pure ecstacy, driving Sasuke to arch his back into each caress.

But there was more than just his lover’s saliva upon those tended marks. Naruto was shedding his own tears and wetting the bruised skin with it. His body shivered with a mix of excitement and grief as he continued his treatment, licking the salty wetness while thinking about the years of torture and pain Sasuke had endured. He accidentally let a louder than intended sob escape, *Oh Sasuke, I’ll never let him fucking touch you again.*

Sasuke reached out to lift Naruto’s head gently, “Why are you crying?” he asked, a look of concern showing in slightly frowning brows. Naruto didn’t answer. He couldn’t express or say what he thought except to show that he cared in the form of his loving actions. So he chose to smile warmly before locking Sasuke in yet another deep kiss, his tongue plunging to draw on his lover’s in a playful ceremony. He felt Sasuke ground his hips against his erection and the contact caused him to let out a lust filled moan. The gesture made Naruto move in tandem reflexively and the two lost themselves in a sinful dance that melded their inflamed emotions and bodies causing Naruto’s hunger to make him want more; more than he had ever wanted in his life. Ceasing the grinding reluctantly, he moved to rid Sasuke of his belt, his pants and finally his black underwear. He stopped to observe Sasuke’s gorgeous member. It was then that he realized his being couldn’t be whole without bring Sasuke to his peak, but he was afraid to. He had never been involved in sexual intercourse with another man and being his first time, he faltered. He paused to look into Sasuke’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Sasuke said in a tone that just managed to keep his frustration at bay.

“You’re…” Naruto chuckled shyly in a sultry sexy voice and blushed, “the first guy I’ve ever…” He couldn’t finish his sentence as his pride and ego was begging him to stop.

Sasuke smiled and he quickly took charge by exchanging his positions with the coy blonde. Once on top, he licked Naruto from the base of his throat, down his abs and finally to that spot laced with shiny curls he’d been dying for, lingering there for a moment before a slight growl signaled for Sasuke to go further. Naruto shuddered as he watched Sasuke, his throat drying out at the beautiful angel’s dark eyes staring intently back at him. Sasuke then worked his way through Naruto’s pants and undid the buttons quickly before pushing the khaki mess aside. Naruto’s proud member swayed slightly upon its release and Sasuke eyed it thoughtfully before he grabbed the base of this cock and proceeded to lap the precum glistening at its tip.

“Mmm..” Naruto moaned and Sasuke took the response as his cue to inflict further ecstacy. He sucked on the tip and dipped his tongue into that sensitive slit before taking Naruto’s entire large length in.

“Oh.. God…” The blonde let out a suppressed cry and the dark angel rhythmically moved his head up and down Naruto’s length. He slowed his pace and then sucked hard, taking Naruto’s cock in deep till he felt it’s madly throbbing tip reach his throat. Sasuke moaned onto the highly sensitive nub, the vibrations causing Naruto to buck into him abruptly.

Sasuke gagged and he lifted his head, “Are you alright?” The blonde asked worriedly in between heavy pants. “Hn…” was Sasuke’s reply, as he bent to share the salty essence with Naruto in another kiss. He then shifted to straddle his hips and ground their naked erections together in a gesture of contact that served to drive them mad with passion.

“Ah…” Sasuke’s lust filled body could bear it no longer. He ground into Naruto relentlessly and the blonde ground back, pushing against his erection, wanting more friction, harder, faster. As wave after wave of electricity racked through their bodies, they jerked uncontrollably feeling the familiar tightness build. Adding further to the sensations, Naruto reached out to pump both their erections together. Tanned skin mixed with milky white as they merged their bodies into a concoction of pure sweet sex completely losing their minds in life’s most fulfilling pleasures.

“Oh…. Sas..Sasuke… Ah..!” Naruto cried out, his cum spilling onto Sasuke’s abdomen in thick jets as his release poured through his entire being. The feel of wetness, the smell of cum and Naruto’s jerking release pushed Sasuke over the edge and sent him into his own climax soon after. “Ahh…” Sasuke’s cry softer as he collapsed on top of Naruto spent; burying his head into the crook of Naruto’s neck, heavy breaths and pounding heart beats being the only intrusion upon their seemingly complete world. They remained still as they let the orgasm’s delightful effects cascade over their bodies in waves.

Naruto caressed Sasuke’s back gently in a soft lulling gesture and after some time had passed, the illusion they had been wrapped in faded once again into reality. When his breathing had calmed, Naruto gently pushed Sasuke aside, before he got up, grabbed a couple of towels from his attached bathroom and wetted them. He passed one to Sasuke to clean the sticky residue off his abs.

“Thanks.” Sasuke smiled, his skin still slightly flushed from the blood rush as he accepted the towel from Naruto’s hand. They cleaned themselves and the two shifted around the room silently as Naruto picked up his strewn clothes and wrapped a yukata round his physique whilst Sasuke slowly dressed. He watched as the blonde stepped out towards the verandah and sat himself on the platform, resting his weight on his palms behind his back. Sasuke moved to sit beside him and noticed that Naruto’s face looked grim. It was unspoken but the two knew that the future was unpredictable and it frightened them both immensely.

Naruto stared out into the serene garden and sighed at his troubled thoughts. There were so many questions he wanted answered about Itachi but he didn’t know where to begin. So he chose instead to voice out the one prominent thought he had.

“I don’t want your brother ever touching you again.” Naruto’s voice was stern.

“Naruto… it’s not that simple.”

“Why don’t you run to the police?”

“Tch.. if I could I would’ve. My brother own’s the fucking police. Money talks and that’s the issue.” Sasuke smirked. “And if I suddenly act estranged, he’ll figure this out in no time and the last thing I want him to do is to hunt you down and kill you.”

“So we’re gonna keep doing this hush-hush thing while you go back to that fucking bastard and get pounded upon till I find a solution to drag you away from him?” Sasuke looked away but he didn’t say anything. It’s not like he didn’t already know that Naruto’s efforts were near impossible in the first place. “Look, let’s just leave the fucking country.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“I have a company I’m responsible for and over a hundred families to feed. There’s no way I can leave them and go.”

“What?!”

“What do you mean what? You’re telling me that you can just bundle up Spiral and leave it?”

“Yes.” Naruto’s reply was quick, which served to irritate Sasuke further.

He glared at the blonde, “Sigh Naruto, I have a huge responsibility which I owe to over a thousand people. I can’t afford to up and leave.” Sasuke was adamant. He had put in so much to build something which he had hoped, all his life, to be the only way to overthrow his brother and take the company. There was no way that he’d give up now that his company had been going on an uphill recently.

“You think it’s easy for me to leave my gallery too? Just because you have families to feed and I only have a few assistants it doesn’t mean it’s any easier for me to leave that. Anyway, it’s all about starting over.” Naruto retorted. He couldn’t understand what was going on in Sasuke’s mind and his insane reasoning. What could possibly make him not want to leave such a fucked up life that only lead to more suffering? He couldn’t understand it and he looked at Sasuke appalled.

Offended by the blonde’s expression, Sasuke flared. “Fuck Naruto, I’m not leaving these people in the hands of my psychotic brother to rot!!!!”

Naruto stayed silent and then faced away. Feeling hurt, he brought his knees close to his chest and clutched onto them in a huddled position. He held his tears back in defiance and Sasuke watched as the blonde quivered. Sasuke had been harsh and he realized it. Afterall, if the blonde had been in his position, he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t feel crazed enough to drive a knife right through Itachi’s chest and proceed to butcher him up into even further pieces. But no matter what he couldn’t leave, since running away wouldn’t solve the problem for long given Itachi’s relentlessness and he had realized long ago, even before the blonde had promised him freedom, that the only way out would be to beat Itachi’s own game in power and control. He was beginning to half regret having given the blonde’s false confidence in saying he trusted him and he began rethinking his decision for wanting to bask himself in Naruto’s offer of hope, since it was his selfish want in the first place that got him into this mess. *But I did and still trust him. Why?* Sasuke sighed, frustrated, confusion wrecking his brain.

Interrupting the silence was Naruto’s phone, buzzing rapidly with an incoming call.
Naruto let out a grunt before getting up from his position and checking the caller ID.

“Hi. Yup…” He hung up. “Its Deidara, he’s round the corner.” Naruto said curtly not daring to meet Sasuke’s eyes.

“Well… I better get going.” Sasuke got up, averting those painful blue saphires.

But the blonde grabbed onto his wrist as he passed him. “Please… just setup that freaking email at least.” Sasuke nodded and he let him go. The room’s door opened and closed leaving Naruto to feel completely empty. He sank into his futon and as he turned on his side, he broke into continuous sobs of anger, frustration, pain, confusion and need. Out side his room, a shadow of someone listened as Naruto’s cries continued to carry on its woeful echoes throughout the long, lonely night.

TBC

P.S. Yes, I miss the paintings too. They’ll be back.

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