Spartan Ninjas (Abandoned WIP)

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

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

---------The Next Day, Saturday-------
Blinking as the late morning sun attacked him, Naruto stretched with a sigh. Sasuke was still asleep. Nowhere near ready to get up yet Naruto just cuddled closer and stroked Sasuke's stomach as he nuzzled lightly at his shoulder, content to just lay there.

It was a long while before Sasuke even stirred. When he did finally move it was to roll to his side and lay there facing Naruto for a moment before opening his eyes slowly. He smirked and slowly reached out to touch Naruto's cheek lightly, whispering a very soft, "Good morning..." but nothing more.

Naruto smiled back and kissed him softly. "Morning," he whispered back, the hand on Sasuke's stomach sliding up to his neck. Lightly he caressed Sasuke's jawline with his thumb as he gazed at him with hooded, lazy eyes.

He'd given the kiss back when Naruto's lips had brushed his and now Sasuke was content to simply lay there and bask in the glow of the warm morning, with Naruto beside him. Hooded black eyes gazed lovingly into vibrant blue ones. Sasuke saw his entire future in the lovely face before him, saw his happiness stretching far into the distance of time beyond. It was a wonderful feeling. With Naruto it felt like there really could be a forever. Lightly he grazed Naruto's cheek with the backs of his fingers and kissed him briefly again, but only that and then resumed gazing adoringly upon the face that he wanted to wake up to every morning for the rest of his life.

Smiling peacefully Naruto ran loving fingers down Sasuke's neck to the hollow of his throat, circling the depression with his index finger. His eyes never left Sasuke's, willingly trapped in his warm gaze. Slowly his fingers slid back up Sasuke's throat over his adam's apple to his face to explore. Naruto knew every plane and contour of his lover's face by heart but he never tired of remapping it, finding the subtle differences caused by a smirk or a smile or sleep. This was paradise... and Naruto would give anything to keep it forever. He could no longer imagine a future without Sasuke and didn't even want to try. With Sasuke he felt complete, and to lose him would be to lose half his soul.

Sasuke kissed the tip of each exploring finger and cupped Naruto's cheek in his palm, thumb caressing one perfect cheekbone when there was a loud knock at the door.

Definitely not wanting to get up Naruto ignored the knock, turning his head to kiss Sasuke's palm and lick it playfully. Whoever it was could wait.

Sasuke's smirked. Playful, huh? He could deal with that. The peace of the moment shattered, Sasuke decided that the person on the other side of the door could wait and leaned in, waiting until their lips were almost touching before opening his mouth enough to permit his tongue out to lick at Naruto's lip, hoping for that same playful lick to be placed elsewhere.

Grinning wickedly Naruto pulled away, wanting to make Sasuke work for it. But before Sasuke could do anything there was another knock. Growling Naruto yelled, "Go away!" He hadn't had Sasuke to himself for longer than a couple hours - not counting sleep - since Wednesday morning and he wanted to make up!

"I most absolutely will not! I had to lock your grandmother in a bathroom to come all the way up here and you're telling me to go away?! I don't think so!"

Sasuke groaned and leaned in more, chasing Naruto for the kiss he'd wanted. "He can wait two seconds..."

"Then come back in an hour!" Naruto countered before letting Sasuke kiss him, nibbling at his bottom lip lovingly.

Moaning softly into Naruto's mouth, Sasuke let his hand drop to Naruto's stomach, caressing with light fingertips that trailed right down to the waistband of his boxers and tickled the skin beneath the elastic.

Sighing quietly to himself, remembering what it was to be young and hormonal, Arashi shook his head and yelled, "I'm gong to the police station then... I'll be back in an hour and a half. If you aren't up by then, I'm going to have your suitemates let me into the bathroom and I _will_ get into the room." And with that he was gone. He wanted to talk with the cops handling the case in person without the boys anyway. He just got to do it before instead of after talking to the boys themselves.

Naruto didn't even hear him, more than a little preoccupied with Sasuke's delicious mouth. He purred at the touch on his stomach and slipped his hands down the back of Sasuke's pants, squeezing his rump gently. Definitely in a playful mood now that he was fully awake he broke the kiss and scooted away, wrapping the blanket around himself in a cocoon.

Growling Sasuke grabbed an edge of the blanket and pulled. Hard. "Get back here you... You owe me..." he scolded, but his humor was evident.

"Owe you? I have no idea what you're talking about," Naruto said innocently, rolling over a couple times to really get himself tangled in the sheet. It was fun to make Sasuke work for his treats.

"Damn it, Naruto," Sasuke cursed and reached out, releasing the blanket and instead hooking his arm around Naruto's waist, trapping him in the blanket completely, turning the sheet from a cocoon to a veritable full-body straight jacket. His casted arm slipped underneath Naruto around his waist to hold him in place while his other hand slipped low to caress Naruto's thinly covered thigh with teasing fingers, nibbling at the blond's ear simultaneously.

"Oh..." Naruto moaned lightly, wriggling to try and free his hands. He wasn't successful and growled in frustration. "Evil... that's not fair..."

"Serves you right..." Sasuke mumbled and ran his tongue around the shell before dipping his tongue in with a quick flick. Then he was licking at the back of Naruto's ear while his hand slid over from Naruto's thigh to brush over Naruto's morning erection before grabbing the edge of the blanket down there and pulling it out of the way so that Sasuke could have access to the skin of Naruto's right thigh. Pleased, he made a deep murring sound in Naruto's ear, his breath warm, and lightly drew his nails up the side of Naruto's thigh, raising goosebumps.

Naruto shivered and moaned a little louder, squirming until he finally managed to free his hands by bunching the sheet around his torso. Seeking revenge for having his plan turned against him he turned his head to capture Sasuke's mouth in a deep kiss as he ran a light finger up and down the fine trail of hair leading from Sasuke's belly button to the hem of his pants.

It was Sasuke's turn to shiver. Shudder was a more accurate word. That was more than an erogenous zone for him. "Now who's evil...?" he whispered into Naruto's ear as his hand left Naruto's thigh for the edge of the blanket, trying to unwrap Naruto and not let him get away at the same time. His tongue flicked Naruto's earlobe gently and then Sasuke warm mouth was sucking lightly at Naruto's neck as his left arm tightened, pulling them tight enough together that he could grind against Naruto's pelvis while he sucked.

Just to prove how evil he could be Naruto wriggled and rolled away. He was close enough to the edge of the bed that he fell off, effectively freeing himself. With an evil grin he scurried up the ladder into what used to be his bunk, leaning over the edge of it to grin at Sasuke. "Now what are you gonna do?"

Sasuke sat up slowly and eyed Naruto. There as no way he was going to put the effort into climbing up after him. Black eyes narrowed a minute as he thought and then he was standing and walking towards the bathroom throwing a, "I'll take care of it myself," over his shoulder as he went into the bathroom and shut the door behind him, starting the shower. That was unfair. Naruto knew he couldn't get up there easily and only at risk to hurting his still healing arm. He wasn't mad, but he wasn't pleased. And that was mostly because if it hadn't been for the cast he'd have simply followed Naruto right up.

A couple minutes later Naruto joined him, wrapping his arms around Sasuke's waist from behind and sliding one hand down his stomach to cup him gently. "I would have come back down if you'd asked really really nicely," Naruto purred teasingly into Sasuke's ear. He wasn't worried about Kiba or Shikamaru hearing them since Kiba was still at his girlfriend's and Shikamaru was practically in a coma on the couch - Naruto'd checked before getting in the shower with Sasuke.

A quick shiver coursed through Sasuke's body at Naruto's hand on him and he rolled his hips into it. "I know..." he murmured and turned his head enough to look over his shoulder at Naruto. "It's just..." and he trailed off, choosing to gesticulate with the cast that was stretched outside the shower curtain at the moment. "This..." he finally finished, leaning back into Naruto's embrace.

"Where's the bag you use to keep it dry?" Naruto asked, wrapping warm fingers around Sasuke's growing arousal and stroking slowly as he rocked a bit into Sasuke's rear.

Sasuke gasped and pushed back and then rolled forward, liking both forms of stimulation enough that he couldn't decide which one to move with. "I'm... not sure..." he managed as he reached up in front of himself and laid his forearm against the wall to brace himself a bit.

"Mmm... guess we'll have to make this quick then." Naruto turned the showerhead away from them so that he could pull Sasuke's cast into the shower long enough to pin him against the other wall, maneuvering so that he stood in front of him. Trailing wet kisses down Sasuke's torso Naruto ended up on his knees, holding Sasuke's hips tightly and burrowing his nose in the damp nest of midnight curls between Sasuke's legs.

Long fingers burrowed into Naruto's hair, lacing into the locks without grabbing or pulling. "Oh, god..." he murmured softly, not having expected this kind of treatment in the shower there. Sasuke leaned against the wall and let his stance widen a little. He left arm hung at his side limply while Sasuke's eyes never left Naruto, watching him through soggy, semi-short bangs.

Purring Naruto took Sasuke's arousal into his mouth, curling his tongue around it and sucking lightly. Almost lazily he bobbed his head as one of his hands found Sasuke's sacs and caressed them, stopping to brush against the insides of his thighs at random intervals before going back to their task.

Sasuke's fingers flexed intermittently into Naruto's hair as his moans got a little louder. His knees bent slightly, feeling weak suddenly and then, as the pressure of pleasure built Sasuke's muscles - his stomach, lower back, thighs and butt - began to tense and release, forcing Sasuke's heavy little pants to catch on the tightenings. Closing his eyes tightly he let his head fall back and to the side and arched off the wall a little before falling back against it and moaning. He was trying desperately not to just outright take Naruto's mouth, trying instead to go at Naruto's pace by letting Naruto lead entirely. But that meant no thrusting. Besides, he - whatever part of him that could still think, in the hot steam of the shower and even hotter, tight moisture of Naruto's mouth - wasn't sure Naruto could handle having Sasuke thrusting into his mouth anyway.

Naruto smirked around Sasuke's erection and began to suck hard and fast, pressing his tongue against the thick vein on the underside. He continued to stroke Sasuke's sacs but at the same time he pressed the strip of skin just behind them with one finger. His other hand tightened on Sasuke's hip, keeping him pinned to the wall.

"Oh god!" Sasuke gasped in a deep voice and his hips strained against Naruto's hand for a moment. A second press to that spot sent him moaning Naruto's name into oblivion as he came, filling Naruto's mouth on a forward bob of the blond's head. Sasuke's whole body went rigid and he arched, his mouth falling open with his head tilted back against the wall, eyes closed in ecstasy.

Eagerly Naruto drank all of it, giving Sasuke a few more sucks before releasing him. "We really need to start looking into an apartment..." he murmured as he nuzzled Sasuke's belly. He kept one hand tight on Sasuke's hip so that he wouldn't slide down the wall while the other lightly ran up and down Sasuke's leg.

Sasuke, now completely relaxed, looked down at Naruto through lazy eyes. "Mm," he agreed and tugged lightly at Naruto's hair, urging him to his feet. Naruto's fingers were tickling his leg, making it jump a little, which meant if he kept it up Sasuke might just have to sit down. All over his muscles were still shaking from release.

Naruto complied and stood up, pressing Sasuke against the wall with his body as he kissed him slowly, sharing the taste of Sasuke's cum. His own erection pleaded for attention but he ignored it in favor of the kiss. "Start looking today?" he breathed against Sasuke's lips, his hands circling Sasuke's waist.

"Yes," Sasuke answered, his hand leaving Naruto's hair in favor of reaching down to Naruto's rump, grabbing one firm globe in his hand. Squeezing gently once, Sasuke shifted and inserted one well-muscled thigh between both of Naruto's and pulled Naruto's arousal tight against his thigh. He was able to stand taller now. Having given Naruto the incentive Sasuke slipped his hand further back and decided to test the waters a little bit, letting his middle finger barely skim the line of Naruto's cleft as he reached between Naruto's legs from the back to press that patch of skin behind Naruto's sacs.

Groaning from intense pleasure Naruto ground into Sasuke's leg and arched his back... only to get the spray right in his face. He'd almost forgotten they were in the tiny shower. Spluttering a bit he straightened, blinking water from his eyes and looking a little drowned.

A breathy chuckle snuck past Sasuke's lips, but he only muttered something that sounded affectionately like "Usurakontachi," and then leaned forward to lick some of the water off Naruto's cheek with a quick, flat swipe of his tongue, brushing the corner of his mouth. His finger pressed a little harder into the tract of skin between Naruto's sacs and entrance, running the pad of his finger back and forth the whole time. It was a teasing pressure to Naruto's prostate, but enough that - with Naruto grinding into Sasuke's thigh - it should get him off readily and pleasurably enough.

Naruto moaned deeply as pleasure built within him and cupped Sasuke's face, kissing him passionately and grinding harder into his thigh. At the same time he pressed himself down into Sasuke's finger, trembling at the white-hot lightning that raced through him. It wasn't long before he was biting his lip to muffle his scream of ecstasy as he came all over their stomachs, leaning limply on Sasuke a moment later. "Evil evil bastard," he murmured affectionately, dropping lazy kisses on Sasuke's neck.

"How am I evil? You came in here and started it..." Sasuke murmured and nipped at Naruto's shoulder affectionately. His right hand was now idly petting one of Naruto's buttcheeks, stroking down, lifting and stroking down again over and over, while he held Naruto to him by hooking one leg around the back of one of Naruto's legs.

"Because I say so," Naruto teased with a playful bite. "Clean off and then back to bed?" he suggested, wanting to cuddle some more. Maybe even continue that wonderfully peaceful moment they'd had just after waking up.

"Ha~..." Sasuke murmured and nuzzled Naruto's throat. His teeth caught the muscle in the side of Naruto's neck suddenly and held for a moment before he sucked gently and then it gradually broke down to a few kisses and then one last lick before he lifted his head, having left a very distinctive and unique mark for all eyes to see. "Mine..." he murmured before finally releasing Naruto's rump, which he'd grabbed while giving Naruto the hickey and then completely let Naruto go. "Help me?"

Naruto made a face at him and rubbed at his neck. "See, evil," he said with a razz, but it quickly turned into a smirk as he grabbed the soap. He loved the thrill he got every time Sasuke marked him, and he didn't mind in the least showing the world that he belonged to Sasuke. With his usual gentleness he bathed Sasuke, brushing light fingers teasingly over the more sensitive patches of skin just to see his lover shiver.

As soon as they were both clean and dry Naruto sat in the middle of their bed without bothering to put any clothes on and waited for Sasuke to join him.

Soon enough Sasuke grabbed one of their pillows and put it on Naruto's lap before sprawling beside him and resting his head in Naruto's lap. "Love you..." he murmured.

Smiling Naruto bent down and kissed the tip of Sasuke's nose. "Love you too, beautiful," he murmured back, nuzzling him a bit before sitting back up and combing his fingers through Sasuke's hair.

Sasuke hadn't gotten the same amount of rest as Naruto last night... He was dead tired and it showed. He was asleep before Naruto had really even gotten his petting rhythm into full swing.

The chain on the bathroom door popped open not long after that and Arashi entered the room quietly. "C'mon, slugs..." he began but stopped, seeing that Sasuke was fast asleep.

The young man was really beautiful... it wasn't any wonder the attraction between his son and the Uchiha was tangible. Silently Arashi grabbed a chair and settled in it in the middle of the room facing Naruto. "How is everything... I mean, between you and him..." he murmured softly, concern in his voice. A lot had happened between the two boys in so little time from them getting together so quickly, from Itachi to the whole incident of last night... Arashi was worried that Sasuke might end up breaking his baby's heart. He certainly had the look and the reputation amongst the girls, but Arashi knew from past experience that looks and rep weren't everything. All that mattered was that Naruto was happy and that Sasuke was too. Naruto was more important, but Arashi couldn't bring himself not to care about how Sasuke felt. Sighing he shook his head. He really hadn't changed any since then. But then that might be to be expected.

"Y'know, I would have actually opened the door this time," Naruto grumbled quietly, having just had enough time to pull the sheet over Sasuke's middle before Arashi walked into the room. He did _not_ share and was most definitely not willing to let anyone see all of _his_ Sasuke, not even his father. "And we're fine."

"I just made it so you didn't have to move and wake him up and now you're going to complain? Why don't you just look at my intrusion as convenience and... are you sure? I don't want to see either of you hurt."

"Yes, Dad, I'm sure. It's gonna take a lot more than a false accusation to put a dent in _us_. And a little more warning would have been nice." Naruto just kept stroking Sasuke's hair, knowing that was part of why Sasuke was in such a sound sleep. He needed his rest and Naruto wasn't going to take it away from him.

Raising an eyebrow Arashi looked between Sasuke's soundly sleeping face and Naruto's obviously naked state. It was safe to assume that Sasuke was as naked as Naruto. Grinning wickedly he said, "Although I commend you greatly on your choice in eye candy... is he any good?"

"DAD!!" Naruto protested, just managing to keep from shouting and waking Sasuke up. He could feel his face burn from embarrassment and grabbed a pillow, throwing it at Arashi. "As if I'm telling you!!"

Catching the squishy projectile and tossing it aside casually, Arashi said with a soft chuckle, "Well, at least I'm approving... and I like him. I could be the evil father returned from the grave to make your lives a living hell... Or I could have been a manwhore and tried to take him away from you. There are parents that compete with their children like that. So be thankful that I think he's sweet and attractive."

"Thanks... you can stop staring now though..." Sasuke murmured. He wasn't fully awake yet, but he'd heard at least that part of the conversation.

"Go back to sleep," Naruto commanded gently, bending over to kiss Sasuke's forehead and chuckling quietly as his comment.

Sasuke sighed and turned his head to look up at Naruto. "How about we let the old man take us out to eat first and then we can just go back to bed after, ne?"

"I think I like that idea..." Arashi agreed with a small nod and a smirk. "You can explain everything to me there and then I can go talk to the cops. I couldn't get a hold of any of them because they were all very busy with the case, so I said to the secretary that I would wait until I had you two with me."

"What where they doing? Trying to tranquilize Ino to get her to stop biting heads off?" Naruto joked.

"No, they were doing some intense interrogations from the sounds of things around there. I have the sneaking suspicion that someone is either outraged or in denial," Arashi answered as he stood and headed for the door. "I'll wait outside. Don't take too long to get dressed or I'll come right back in." Then he was out in the hallway, having closed the door behind him.

"Like I said, trying to tranquilize her. Probably need an elephant tranq," Naruto chuckled darkly as he wriggled out from under Sasuke's head and went to the closet.

Sasuke got up and followed him, getting dressed and ready to go. He wasn't looking forward to returning to the station but it was a necessity anyway so at least Naruto's father would be there now. That might make things easier on the both of them.

Just before he opened the door Naruto pulled Sasuke close for a quick, deep kiss. "Stop looking so glum. Think of it this way - she's finally off your tail. ...For a few months at least."

"How much do you want to bet that you're going to eat those words later?" Sasuke asked, nibbling Naruto's lower lip, but he opened the door himself leaving no room for further discussion on the topic.

"Ready?" Arashi asked with a bright grin.

"Yep. Feed me!" Naruto demanded, grabbing Arashi's hand and dragging him towards the main lobby and thus the car.

---

Lunch was a quiet affair save for the very serious discussion between Arashi and Sasuke while Naruto was in the bathroom. It was brief but it amounted to the conclusion that if Sasuke did anything that was damaging to Naruto, Arashi would slit his throat. Satisfied that the message had reached the addressed, Arashi moved on and was chatting gaily with them as they pulled into the police station visitor parking. As he turned off the ignition his face grew serious. "You kids ready for a little more of this?"

Sasuke shrugged and got out of the backseat of the car, where he and Naruto had been cuddled. "I want to get this over with."

Naruto nodded and climbed out. "The sooner we get this over with the better."

"The fallen return," Kakashi quipped as the three of them walked into his office, looking up from his paperwork. "Mike and Rob are having the pleasure of taking that Ino girl down quite a few notches. She's managed to earn herself at least a year's jail-time."

Flopping into his usual chair Naruto asked, "What did she do?"

"Tried to force her way out of the interrogation room and gave Mike a split lip. Stupid girl..."

Sasuke and Naruto had moved into the room already but Sasuke registered a lack of the second presence in his party and looked over his shoulder. Arashi was staring at Kakashi in the oddest manner. "Arashi?" he asked, and went unheard.

::I can't believe it... My god, there's no mistaking it... What is up with that eye-patch? And he ended up taller than me, damn it... oh well... I can't believe it really is him.:: "Hatake Kakashi..." Arashi acknowledged, seeming not to notice that he'd done the traditional flip of the officer's name. "It's a pleasure."

"Let me guess, you're Naruto's dad?" Kakashi asked, leaning back in his chair comfortably and putting his hands behind his head. He didn't bother to comment about the rearrangement of his name since he really didn't care about the order.

"Yeah," Arashi nodded and moved into the room "I appreciate you looking out for the boys in my stead."

"No problem... Though you should know your kid's a real pain in the ass sometimes. Especially in class," Kakashi joked with a grin.

"And you aren't?" Naruto shot back as he grabbed one of Sasuke's belt loops, pulling him down into his lap. There were only two extra chairs in the office and he figured Arashi would want one. Besides, it wasn't as if he and Sasuke had issues about personal space.

Sasuke didn't bother to struggle. Why would he? It was Naruto's lap, after all.

"If he's anything like me... I can imagine what he's like in class," Arashi responded. ::I wonder if he even... questions it... feels it...::

"Can we stop talking about what I'm like in class and get back to the case?" Naruto muttered, rolling his eyes.

Kakashi chuckled and leaned his chair back on two legs. "Clarissa's been cooperative so she's going to get off relatively easy. A few months in jail then plenty of community service. Ino on the other hand is racking up jail time. Actually..." He put his chair back down and stood up, heading for the door. "I should probably check on how they're doing... Be right back."

"I hope she gets ten years," Naruto said, wrapping his arms around Sasuke's waist and pulling him snug against his chest.

Arashi said nothing, staring off into space and seemingly lost in deep thought.

"With her temper... it won't surprise me..." Sasuke muttered and leaned back into Naruto's body, wrapping his own good arm over top of Naruto's arms about his waist.

"Man... talk about damage control..." Kakashi muttered as he walked back in. "That's not a girl, that's a tornado..."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Is there anything else you need from us, or are we freed of this until it's time to press charges on something?" Sasuke didn't want to be there.

"Is there anything you need from me?" Arashi offered, asking just in case. He was still thinking, but looking at Kakashi made him pause for a moment.

Kakashi shook his head at Arashi and said to Sasuke after closing the door, "You're free of that case for now... But concerning the other one, have you decided what you're going to do about your family? That whole Patriarch business?"

"Oh, you need to call Mikoto," Naruto reminded, giving Sasuke a quick squeeze.

"Patriarch...? The Clan's still... well, I mean there's still some of them left?" Arashi asked. ::I almost...::

"Yes... and no, Kakashi. I haven't decided what I'm going to do. I have time..." Sasuke said shortly while squeezing Naruto's hand to acknowledge what the blond had reminded him of.

"Alright, but I would advise that you make at least a tentative decision soon," Kakashi said. "Also, your foster family... Do you want to go beyond the restraining order or just wait until you're legally not under their care anymore?"

"I want them to forever be unable to adopt children. No child deserves to be half-assed raised by people like those..." Sasuke growled.

Kakashi nodded. "That we can do. We can talk about that later next week. Right now I have to get back to all this... mess." He sighed, glaring at the piles of paperwork on his desk.

"Okay." Naruto slowly pushed Sasuke off his lap, giving him plenty of time to find his feet, and stood up. "Try not to die."

"I've managed not to yet."

Sasuke and Naruto were out the door hand in hand and on down the hallway before they stopped to wait for Arashi. The fingertips of Sasuke's left hand brushed at Naruto's cheek a little awkwardly. "Are you satisfied with this outcome?"

Naruto shrugged a bit. "I'm not gonna get anything better so yeah, I guess. All I ask for is that Ino finally leaves us alone and stops dragging other people into it."

---

"Take good care of yourself, Kakashi..." Arashi said, pausing to look back in the doorway. He wanted to hug him, but he refrained and left after only a moment's pause.

"Thanks. You too," Kakashi replied absently, already absorbed in his work again.

"Arashi... My name is Arashi..." he said as he walked away. He caught up to the boys as Sasuke was pulling Naruto into a small hug. The sight of the two of them... it made Arashi's heart ache both out of happiness and out of grief.

"She will... even if I have to force her..." Sasuke muttered into Naruto's hair, then kissed his crown and let him go. "Take us home, please?" he asked Arashi politely.

"Yeah... home sounds good." Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke and Arashi's waists and led them out of the station.

-----------Sunday Afternoon---------
Fury incarnate Ino stalked down the second floor of West Holmes to Sasuke and Naruto's door. She had just been let out on bail - a very large bail - and was determined to take at least one more shot at having Sasuke for herself. Her rage was directed at the idiotic officers who'd had the "pleasure" of interrogating her. She was going to make sure to sue them for emotional damage.

She came to Sasuke's door and forced herself to calm down. ::This is it... You can do it...:: she thought and, smiling sweetly, knocked on the door.

Naruto was about to say something when there was a knock on the door. Kakashi had come over to talk to them about the Itachi case while Mikoto contacted the Clan in Japan from his hotel room to inform them on what was happening. Curious Naruto got up and looked out the peephole, only to groan softly. 'It's Ino,' he mouthed to the others in the room.

Sasuke looked to Kakashi and nodded towards the bathroom with a raised brow. He wanted to strangle her, but if they could get a direct confession Ino would be in big trouble.

Kakashi nodded in understanding and grabbed Naruto's elbow, dragging him into the bathroom just as Ino knocked again. Right before he closed the bathroom door he pulled a small tape recorder out of his pocket, pressed "record", and set it on the floor behind the trash can.

Sasuke then stood and headed to the door answering it. "Ino..." he stated, eyeing her like he always did. Warily, thus masking his anger.

"Hello Sasuke," Ino crooned sweetly. "How are you?" Her smile grew as her eyes flicked to the room behind Sasuke and she didn't see Naruto. ::Yes!::

"As well as I can be..." he answered and stepped back into the room, permitting her to enter. She hadn't jumped him... that made him warier, but always provided a possible window of opportunity.

::Score!!:: Ino entered the room and her face fell a bit in artful sympathy. "I'm glad to hear that... especially with all the stuff that's happened with your roommate. That must have been terrible," she cooed.

"Shit happens..." he muttered, not willing to really talk to Ino more than he had to.

She nodded understandingly and stepped closer to him. "Is there anything I can do to help cheer you up?"

---

::Why that little-!!!:: Kakashi had to pin Naruto's arms to his sides to keep him from bursting out of the bathroom right then.

---

"No... I'm gay Ino. Naruto and I aren't over... We're going to see this through and then get on with our lives," Sasuke said seriously. "Our relationship is stronger than that."

Ino sighed and had the grace to look disappointed, but on the inside she was seething. "I don't understand what you see in him..." she said dejectedly. "He's only a poor ghetto boy who's using you for your money."

"Naruto's not using me for my money. Nine times out of ten he's telling me not to buy him things," Sasuke said. "And when I listen to him and don't buy whatever it is, he's just as happy as if I had bought it for him anyway." Sasuke was starting to seethe as well. That was starting to aim a little low.

"Then why did he try to cheat on you if he's not using you for something?" Ino countered, not paying attention to the warning signs.

---

There was a silent battle in the bathroom as Naruto tried to break free of Kakashi's grip so he could go out there and kill her now. First, he was not ghetto!! So what if he was a little monetarily challenged?! Second, it never crossed his mind to use Sasuke for anything!! Third, he hadn't tried to cheat on Sasuke!!! ::I'm gonna MURDER her!!!!::

---

"He didn't cheat on me Ino..." Sasuke ground out. His temper was thinning drastically.

"Yes he did," Ino insisted, not knowing that Clarissa had already spilled the beans. "I'm friends with the girl he tried to rape and she was sobbing, she was so traumatized."

"She's a good actress... which is exactly why you hired her isn't it?" Sasuke stated flatly, his hands clenching at his sides. He couldn't try to hold onto his temper and tolerate the slander to Naruto any longer.

Ino blinked, startled. How had he found that out?! "I have no idea what you're talking about!" she protested. "Is that some lie he told you so you wouldn't leave him like he deserves?"

That was it! Sasuke's fist slammed onto the top of the dresser viciously. "God damn it, Ino! I'm sick of this! You hired that sniveling bitch to separate us! I know you did because I know you!"

Ino jumped in surprise but she was ready to fight back. "It takes a whore to get rid of a whore," she said, her voice dripping venom.

Sasuke saw through a haze of red as he roared and lunged for her. Naruto was not some meat to be picked over! If anything, Sasuke was the whore in the relationship though Naruto still didn't know just how near to accurate that statement actually was. He never made it to Ino however.

Kakashi shot out of the bathroom and grabbed one of Sasuke's arms, Naruto holding the other one. As much as Ino deserved to be beaten for her biting insults Sasuke had enough things to worry about in his life without being charged for assault with intent to kill.

Naruto clutched Sasuke's arm to keep himself from lunging at Ino just as much as keeping Sasuke from attacking. "Get out before this whore gets rid of another one, bitch," he snarled, his face contorted in fury.

Doing her best not to cower in front of three sets of blazing eyes - well, two and a half sets - Ino stood tall and glared right back at Naruto. "At least I don't work for handouts," she shot back.

That was the last straw! Feeling the boys tense in preparation to attack, Kakashi threw both of them farther into the room. He dove for the tape recorder and turned it off, giving Ino an overly sweet smile. "Thank you for your confession. And you just violated your bail. Back to the station with you!" Before any of the teenagers could react Kakashi pulled out a set of cuffs, put them on Ino, and dragged her from the room. "I'll see you two later," he said as he closed the door behind him to prevent an assault.

Ino didn't resist Kakashi, shaking in terror as she was led away. Later she would convince herself it had just been a trick of the light but right now she was certain she'd just seen both Naruto and Sasuke's eyes flash red. Literally. And it frightened her more - much more - in respect to Naruto. Why, she didn't know, but her instincts had been screaming 'danger!!!'

---

Roaring Naruto picked up the first thing he found on the floor and threw it at the door. The sound of ceramic shattering filled the room as one of Naruto's mugs met wood.

Sasuke continued to glower at the door fiercely, resisting the urge to take Ino away from Kakashi and beat her to within an inch of her life, when the mug hit the door, accompanied by Naruto's roar of anger. Shaken out of his thoughts of maiming, he turned and caught Naruto to him immediately. "Sh..." he soothed, holding the heavily breathing boy to him tightly and tangling one hand in the back of Naruto's hair, holding his head to Sasuke's shoulder. "Don't let that bitch's words get to you like this. I've been dealing her for years... most of my life. She really is insignificant..." Really he was just talking to soothe the rage he felt quaking beneath the surface of Naruto's self. "I love you," he whispered and kissed Naruto's temple. His own rage had subsided for now - she was out of his sight - but Sasuke knew Naruto was a bit more temperamental than he was and wouldn't be able to drop it all right away. He was still seething beneath his calmer layers, but Naruto's anger, and Sasuke's strong desire to calm him, pushed it deep enough for Sasuke to ignore. For the moment. Lightly his one hand stroked the back of Naruto's neck.

Naruto hugged Sasuke crushingly and he could almost hear Sasuke's ribs creak in protest, but he didn't loosen his grip. He didn't answer Sasuke's words either, not trusting himself to open his mouth because he knew he was just going to rant and rave. Slowly, very slowly, Naruto's anger calmed enough that he could loosen his deathgrip on Sasuke and sigh. "I love you too..." he muttered into Sasuke's shoulder, his voice stiff but his words sincere.

Sasuke kissed his lover's head then and pulled him over to the couch to settle comfortably in each other's arms. It was a couch at the moment, the bed tucked in for Kakashi's visit. Leaning back against the cubby-cushions, Sasuke held Naruto close to his side and nuzzled his temple. He couldn't really think of anything to say to ease the slight tension remaining in the room, so he caught Naruto's chin, tipped his head up and kissed him softly on the mouth instead. The contact was lingering yet brief and when he pulled away he let his eyelashes lift just enough to see clearly into Naruto's face, seeing the tension and lessened anger still etched on the slightly vulpine features.

The kiss had eased Naruto's tension a little more, but he was still stiff from anger. Sighing he rested his head on Sasuke's shoulder and held him close. Gradually the stiffness drained out of him and he just sat there, cuddled up to Sasuke's side and looking miserable. The insults Ino had thrown at him where not new - he'd heard them directed at him many times before - but this time for some strange reason they had hurt so much more...

Sasuke sat there for a long time before he pulled away to stand. Turning right around he reached down and hauled the bed out with Naruto still on it. Then he stepped to the other side of Naruto and crawled up onto the bed, hooking his left arm about Naruto's waist on his way by so that by the time he was stretched out on his side, Naruto was pulled up against his chest. Thus in the spoon position Sasuke could curl around Naruto, tucking Naruto's thighs up into the fetal position by pushing them that way with his knees. Wrapping both arms tightly about Naruto's body, Sasuke laid his head on Naruto's after kissing his cheek. "Talk to me..." he murmured, sensing Naruto's unhappiness and wanting to find out how to ease it. He had to completely understand it first though.

"It's nothing... I just..." Naruto sighed and folded an arm under his head, settling his other hand on Sasuke's. "I hate it when people call me that stuff... I didn't mind it so much in high school cause most of them were just joking but..." His face got hard again. "I hate her," he growled.

"Shhh," Sasuke soothed and nuzzled him. "Why does it hurt you? Do you believe her... or think she's right?" he asked softly, watching Naruto's profile from above. He had pulled his arm out from under Naruto to rest on it and lean over him.

Naruto's face softened again and he turned his eyes away from Sasuke. "I don't know... It was the way she said it, I guess," he mumbled, thinking out loud. "She made it sound like being poor is a crime and the only reason I'm with you is for your money... she was insulting you just as much as she was me and I think that was part of what made it hurt so much..."

"Look at me," Sasuke said softly and waited patiently for those beautiful yet pained blue eyes to look at him.

Reluctantly Naruto looked at him, almost afraid that he would see the beginnings of rejection in Sasuke's face - a result of actually listening to her. He knew it was an irrational fear but he couldn't help it.

"I don't care what she says about me... I care that you're here with me right now and that you love me. I love you, which means I trust you entirely. Nothing anyone says is going to change that. You're the only person that has that ability, but I'm not even sure you could change my mind. I don't believe you're using me for my money because you didn't even know I had it when we first got together. Thicken your skin a little around people like her, koibitto..." he murmured and spread his fingers, reaching them up and tangling them with Naruto's fingers over the blond's stomach. Tightening his hand in Naruto's he leaned down and kissed him softly. "You're mine... until the day comes when you decide you no longer want to be," he finished in a soft whisper against softer lips.

Naruto smiled lopsidedly and rolled onto his back, wrapping his arms around Sasuke's shoulders to pull him down on top of him. "You may not care about what people say about you, but I care," Naruto murmured, nuzzling at Sasuke's cheek. "And I know I'm yours... You branded me yesterday, remember?" he joked, licking Sasuke's cheek. "I could never decide to not be yours... I love you too much."

"Good," Sasuke murmured and settled there on Naruto like a blanket. He propped his upper body up on his elbows so he could continue to look down into Naruto's face. "Feeling any better?" he asked softly and shifted his weight to his right elbow so he could brush his left fingertips over Naruto's forehead, stirring his messy bangs lightly.

"A little..." Naruto said, tilting his head up and trying to capture Sasuke's fingers in his teeth. "Still pissed but I'll get over it. Especially since I know Kakashi's gonna throw her in cell and she's not comin' out for a loooooooong time." He grinned evilly.

Sasuke kept his fingers out of reach just long enough that they returned to the mattress un-nibbled. They were laying thigh on thigh, hip on hip, and Sasuke sighed contentedly as he leaned down to nip at Naruto's lower lip playfully. "He'll make sure of that, I'm certain..." he murmured and flexed his feet up into the bottom of Naruto's. He was tall enough that lying like this meant that his feet curled under Naruto's, the tops of his feet resting inside Naruto's arches.

Growling playfully Naruto wriggled, trying to chase Sasuke's fingers so he could nibble them. Being pinned as he was, he lost the chase and pouted. He slid his legs out from under Sasuke's and bent them at the knee, resting his feet on the mattress between Sasuke's knees.

Chuckling quietly Sasuke nibbled at Naruto's pouty lips for a little while, kissing and nipping them gently. Then he let his teeth trail to Naruto's neck and the mark there, which he licked and then nibbled around the edges of the bruise. "Mine.." he purred, lifting his lips to Naruto's ear.

"Mmm," Naruto hummed in agreement, tilting his head to nuzzle at Sasuke's hair. "Wanna start looking into apartments today? We only have a couple weeks of school left before break and I wanna move in before next semester."

Without pausing in his assault on Naruto's ear and neck, Sasuke reached into the cubby he'd claimed at the start of the semester and pulled out a small booklet that they'd both received sometime in October. Only then did he pull back, flopping next to Naruto so the blond could take the book and look. Three pages were marked: The Oaks, Dover's Crossing and Arbor Glen. "We can call and set up appointments today... Start with these three and if we don't like any of them then we can look into others," he said softly while his right hand pushed Naruto's shirt up just past his bottom ribs so Sasuke could play with the open plane of skin that was Naruto's stomach. Running light fingers over the sensitive skin, Sasuke scooted down until he could lift up and straddle Naruto's waist without disturbing the booklet. He took hold of each side of Naruto's waist so that he couldn't squirm too much and lowered his tongue to flick it lightly into Naruto's navel. Strong teeth trekked across from the belly button to Naruto's right hip and then tender lips pressed a kiss there as his thumb pushed the loose waistband out of the way.

Naruto laughed and tried to squirm free, but it was just a token fight since he didn't mind in the least what Sasuke was doing. It tickled a bit and made him shiver pleasantly. "Hornball," he accused affectionately, tangling his fingers in Sasuke's hair and lightly tugging him away from his hip. "C'mon, we should make those calls now. Maybe we can even look at them this afternoon. The sooner we have a bigger shower the happier both of us will be," he added, sing-songing playfully.

Sitting back on Naruto's thighs Sasuke stretched his arms up and then fanned them out to his sides, bringing them down to make a cross of his body before rolling his neck and popping his shoulders. When he had finished his stretch he let his arms fall to his sides. Grabbing his cell off the back of the couch then he took the book and looked to Naruto, flipping the phone open. "What place do you want me to call first?"

"Mmmm... lemme see." Naruto took the booklet and read over the details of the three places Sasuke had bookmarked. The Oaks was right next to campus, had small cozy two-level apartments, and looked to be just the right size for them. Dover's Crossing was far from campus, but it had two-story townhouses and allowed pets. Arbor Glen wasn't as far away as Dover's Crossing and in a different direction from campus, but it only had very small, one-level apartments. "The Oaks first, then Dover's Crossing. Let's save Arbor Glen as a backup in case the other two don't work," he said, handing the book back.

Sasuke nodded and dialed the number. As he waited for someone to answer the phone he said, "Remember that money doesn't matter, so it really is whichever one is most appealing... Hello. I'd like to make an appointment to come see you two bedroom, two-level apartments... yeah... Uchiha... Sasuke." There was a pause. "That'd be fine, thank you. See you then. Bye." He hung up and then looked to Naruto. "Get ready to go..." he said as he climbed off of him. "We have an appointment right now."

"Sweet." Naruto got up and grabbed the car keys.

-------------That Night, After Dinner---------
Naruto immediately pulled the couch out as they walked into the room and flopped on his back. "I'm leaning towards The Oaks," he said, continuing the conversation they'd had the car. "What do you think?"

Sasuke tilted his head and nodded as he kicked his shoes off and came over to the bed. Crawling up from Naruto's feet he settled on top of Naruto as they had been before they'd left. Lucky for them, they'd been able to look at them all in one day. The decision was practically made. "I liked The Oaks better as well..." he murmured, sounding a little distracted. His mind, upon seeing the second story of the building, had shifted gears somehow and there was a small plan forming in the back of his mind. Something he'd have to look into a little later. Right now though... he braced his upper body's weight on his elbows again and sighed. "We should jump now and reserve one before they're gone." His feet again hooked under Naruto's and flexed upwards, hoping for the same result as last time.

He got it and Naruto gave Sasuke's hips a brief squeeze with his thighs before reaching down to pull Sasuke's cell and the booklet out of Sasuke's back pockets. Naruto dialed the number and combed one hand through Sasuke's hair while he held the phone in the other. "Hello, I'd like to reserve an apartment... One of the two bedroom, two floor ones... My roommate and I went over there today to check it out... Yes... U-z-u-m-a-k-i, first name N-a-r-u-t-o. My roommate is U-c-h-i-h-a, first name S-a-s-u-k-e... Yes... We can move in at the end of the semester... Yes... Alright, thank you very much. Bye." Naruto hung up and put the cell on top of the cubbies. "The downpayment's due in a week and we just have to take it to the main office."

Sasuke nodded, his cheek rubbing against Naruto's shirt over his heart. "We'll turn it in early after I make an appointment to speak directly to the manager."

"Why do you want to talk to the manager?" Naruto asked curiously, running both his hands through Sasuke's hair now. "And have you turned into a cat or something?" he teased affectionately.

"No..." Sasuke muttered. "I want to make sure that we can do whatever we want to the apartment so long as we contract to put it back the way we found it before we leave."

"Oh? What do you have in mind?"

"You'll see... eventually..." ::I'm not exactly certain of _exactly_ what I'm thinking anyway... right now...::

Naruto scrunched his nose in protest to that answer but didn't press the matter. Instead he let his feet slide down the mattress so that each of his legs was wrapped around one of Sasuke's. "You make a good blanket," he murmured, thinking out loud.

"Well, you make a good mattress..." Sasuke mumbled back, feeling completely at peace. "It's only fitting..."

"Are you a fitted sheet then?" Naruto quipped with a smirk, holding Sasuke's bangs out of his face so that he could watch Sasuke's lips move as he spoke.

Those lips turned up in a sleepy looking smile. Sasuke wasn't tired, just overly relaxed. "If I was a fitted sheet, Naruto... believe me... you'd know the difference..."

Naruto chuckled and shifted a bit so that Sasuke's weight was more comfortably distributed. "And just what would that difference be?" he asked in playful innocence.

Sasuke actually lifted his head and looked Naruto right in the eyes with a lazy, alluring smirk. "What do you think?"

The blond grinned wickedly back, his eyes dancing with mirth. "I don't know, what _do_ I think?"

Sasuke's smirk slipped a little more into a grin that was every bit as wicked as Naruto's. "The dirtiest thing you possibly can..." he purred and rolled his hips a little for emphasis.

"I see..." Naruto purred in return, rolling his hips up into Sasuke's lightly. One of the hands in Sasuke's hair ran a light finger down his ear, across his cheekbone, and down his nose to his lips to trace their outline. "My Sasuke..." Naruto murmured lovingly.

Sasuke's lips parted and the tip of a moist, warm pink tongue flicked out to caress Naruto's finger. "All yours..."

Naruto was about to bend over to kiss him when Sasuke's cell rang.

Sasuke reached up to look at the phone's screen. "Damn..." he cursed softly and propped himself up on one elbow, stretching and putting one finger to Naruto's lips, ignoring his cast completely. He'd unfortunately gotten used to it. The phone he held to his ear and hit the answer button. "Moshi moshi."

"Sasuke-sama," Mikoto greeted at the other end, sounding worried. "~I hope I am not calling at a bad time.~"

"~Is it something important, Mikoto?~"

"~Yes... Your brother has struck again. Amatto-sama just called me with the news.~"

Sasuke frowned and untangled himself from Naruto, rising from the bed and grabbing his key as he headed out the door and into the hall then beyond to the stairwell. "~What happened?~" he asked once he got there. He didn't want Naruto there in the moment that he heard the details. Sasuke wasn't sure what he'd do and the last thing he wanted was to upset Naruto more than he had been upset already that day.

"Sasuke...?" Naruto got up and watched Sasuke walk down the hall to the stairwell, worried. He hadn't liked the look on Sasuke's face. He was speaking Japanese so it probably was Mikoto... A family emergency?

Mikoto sighed, sounding weary. "~He showed up in Morocco today and managed to kill three families. The good news is he did not escape unharmed from any of the houses. All three husbands were found holding a bloody katana or knife and the blood on each weapon was confirmed to come from the same person. Your warning has made it much harder for your brother to kill, sir.~"

"~Good, god damn it. Maybe the bastard will die before I get to him... As long as it is our family, I hope he does, but even if he dies in a car accident I'll rejoice.~" Sasuke's voice was as dark as his solemn expression. "~Were there any survivors?~"

"~One young girl of age seven who hid in a secret room and all three wives since they married into the clan. The child and her mother are being taken to Japan as we speak to be looked after in Amatto-sama's home.~"

Sasuke was silent for a moment. The poor girl... but at least she still had her mother. "~Thank you for informing me, Mikoto. Is there anything else I should know? Or that I could or should do?~"

"~Not that I can think of at the moment, sir, and Amatto-sama only asked me to inform you of the situation. That question would better be asked of Amatto-sama.~"

"~Thank you. I'll call him right now. Good bye, Mikoto.~" Sasuke hung up and tapped his lower lip with his unraised cellphone antenna for moment before flipping the phone back open and dialing the number of Uchiha Amatto.

---

An hour later, Sasuke re-entered the room and tossed his phone onto the back of the couch with a loud clatter. He winced and tossed his keys more gently onto his desk before his eyes actually sought Naruto.

"What was that all about?" Naruto asked as he climbed down from his bunk, looking worried. He'd been up there trying to read as he waited for Sasuke to come back. "Was is Mikoto?"

"It was Mikoto. He was informing me that Itachi killed three families. One little girl got away because she managed to hide. The only good news is that Itachi didn't get out of it unscathed. All three men were found with bloodied weapons, and the blood was confirmed as all coming from the same person," Sasuke informed him as he watched Naruto climb down.

"So bad and good news..." Naruto said with a sigh. "Where was Itachi? It's been a long time since we heard about any of his activities last."

Sasuke shrugged. "Who knows. I was hoping he'd crawled in a hole and died somewhere where we'll never find him..." Sasuke grumped and flopped back on the couch, his head hitting their pillow. There wasn't anything he could do but keep doing what he'd been doing. He could feel more than empathy and pity for the little girl and the wives because he'd never known the men.

Naruto stretched out on top of Sasuke and rested his head just under Sasuke's collarbones. "At least the warnings we sent out helped a bit..." he murmured comfortingly.

Strong hands settled about Naruto's waist, mostly cupping his lower back. "I know..." he murmured in complete agreement with Naruto. He was just angered that three men had come so close to finish this nonsense... and failed. And he wasn't angry at them but at Itachi for making this mess in the first place.

They lay there for a long moment before Naruto kissed the hollow of Sasuke's throat and started to sit up. "We should go to bed... we have early classes," he said softly.

"Just... stay," Sasuke muttered and wrapped his arms around Naruto, holding him tightly in place and not letting him finish sitting up. "Not yet... I can't sleep yet." His eyes never left the ceiling.

"Okay..." Naruto lay down again with a quiet sigh.

It was an hour and a half before Sasuke consented to releasing Naruto and getting ready for bed. As soon as they two of them were under the covers with the alarm set for the next day, Sasuke pulled Naruto to him tightly and buried his face in Naruto's shoulder, choosing to use Naruto as a pillow rather than the other way around. Tossing an arm over Naruto's stomach Sasuke burrowed close to Naruto's side and hooked his leg over Naruto's thigh, letting his own lay between Naruto's. He was silent.

Naruto wrapped his arms tightly around Sasuke's shoulders, holding him close, and nuzzled at his forehead. Gently he stroked Sasuke's back with one hand. "Go to sleep, love," he encouraged softly, kissing the corner of Sasuke's eye. "Worry about it tomorrow... just relax right now..."

Sasuke sighed. "Ha~..." And though he never thought he could, he fell asleep rather quickly.

TBC...