Art and Artifice

Art and Artifice
chapter19

Naruto couldn't remember the last time he'd been so glad that work was over. He was so tired. He'd had trouble sleeping last night and he had a bit of a sniffle from sitting there soaking in cold water for so long after Sasuke's stunt yesterday. It was Satuday so he'd been working all day, which he supposed was better than school but now his last customer of the day was walking out the door and Naruto thought that if he'd had to tattoo just one more person today he'd have gone postal. All he wanted was to cuddle up with his boyfriend and do absolutely nothing if he could get away with it. Itachi had gotten in that morning and might not have been doing much while Naruto was at work, but maybe would be up for some mindless T.V. anyway?

After a quick clean-up, Naruto said goodbye to all of his co-workers and picked up his bag, waving one last time to Raidou as he walked out the door. Trudging slowly down the street, eyes on the ground, he suddenly felt a hand clamp like a vice around his arm. Another hand clapped over his mouth, stifling his startled scream and he was hauled forcibly into a nearby alley. His body was spun around and pushed up against a dingy brick wall. A deep shot of fear raced through his system when his head stopped spinning and he realized that his attacker was Uchiha Sasuke. It was probably pretty safe to say that he was still angry.

Taking in the frightened look in the smaller boy's eyes and the minute trembling of his body, Sasuke leaned in closer, relaxing his grip just slightly. Removing his hand from the boy's mouth, he brought it up to gently caress through his soft blond hair in an almost soothing gesture but the hard look never left his eyes and Naruto's trembling only increased.

"Kyuubi," he spoke finally. "Your playing-hard-to-get may have been cute at first, but it's been getting really old. I've played this game with you long enough. I think I've been very patient." Naruto scoffed but then swallowed it back down at the Uchiha's glare. "I've put a lot more effort in for you than I ever have for anybody else and I do 'not' appreciate being humiliated in return," he growled his hand tightening to a fist in Naruto's hair.

Naruto winced but his fear was actually beginning to dissipate, being overwhelmed by a slow rising tide of incredulous anger. This idiot was talking as if he actually thought he was 'owed' something. Naruto himself wasn't particularly pleased with the way things had turned out. It was unfortunate that there had been witnesses to that scene, but it certainly wasn't his fault!

"After all the trouble I've gone to, not to mention the indignity I've suffered, I expect some kind of compensation. It's time for you to stop playing around and just give in." The 'tide' was becoming a veritable Tsunami! Why that stubborn, pompous, God Damned Bastard! Naruto honestly couldn't believe what he was hearing. As 'if' he had given the jerk the slightest encouragement! As if he had ever given even the tiniest iota of a any 'possible' reason to believe that he would 'ever' go out with him!!

A deep scowl knotted dark blond brows and Naruto was just about to state his opinion on the matter when the hand in his hair curled around the back of his neck and his head was suddenly jerked forward. His eyes shot wide open as he felt harsh, unforgiving lips crush against his own. What the Hell?!! For a split second he was too shocked to even think, but then he tried his best to pull away. The Uchiha just followed and drove him harder against the wall. He ignored the blond's struggling and bit down on the boy's bottom lip in an attempt to force a reaction that was not forthcoming. Finally he pulled away after an especially hard shove to his chest and gave a self-satisfied little smirk, licking the lingering taste of the blond from his own lips. Naruto's anger completely exploded and a coinciding pain exploded in the region of Sasuke's left eye as it made sudden, violent contact with Naruto's right fist.

"What the Hell do you think you're Doing?!" he yelled. His left hand scrubbed furiously at his mouth, his now sore right hand held protectively to his chest. "Compensation?! I don't owe you Shit!! Arrogant Sonofa Bitch!! Why cant you just take 'no' for an answer?! I made myself 'perfectly' clear. You're the one who's been deluding yourself and 'you' humiliated yourself! God Damnit! Don't you get it? I Don't Like You! I will 'never' go out with you because I know all about you Uchiha Sasuke! I know exactly what kind of nasty things you're capable of and what a complete and utter asshole you can be. I've 'always' known! Hell, even 'now' you'll scare me and hurt me and not give a shit about it. All you ever care about is yourself and what 'you' want. Just Stay the Hell away from me!!!"

Sasuke stood, shocked into silence and holding his eye as the blond ran off out of the alley and out of sight down the street. He'd never seen anyone so livid. Did Kyuubi really think he was such a cruel and horrible jerk? Well obviously he did. The boy had actually punched him in the eye! Shit! that 'really' hurt! Nobody had ever done that to him before. The Uchiha leaned heavily against the brick wall. That punch had snapped him right out of his previous anger and now it was just beginning to dawn on him that he had just totally undone whatever progress he might have made. Kyuubi was probably never going to smile at him again! Somehow that thought caused the most incredibly lonely feeling to sweep over him. He frowned and then winced at the pull to his facial muscles. For the first time ever, he felt he was beginning to truly understand that quote about pride going before the fall.

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Naruto was, of course, a little late getting home. No sooner had he flopped down, exhausted on the old couch that creaked out a complaint at the abuse when the knock came to the door, signaling Itachi's arrival. With a groan at having to move again the blond heaved himself up off the couch and shuffled to the door. The second Itachi was standing before him, he collapsed against his boyfriend's tall frame. Itachi frowned, realizing instantly that Naruto was distressed.

"Are you alright?" he asked. The blond head gave a negative shake against his chest.

"I feel like shit," came the muffled voice.

"What happened?"

"Sasuke," Naruto replied lifting his head back up. He gave a drawn out sigh. "I've had a hell of a few days." Itachi's frown deepened and he pulled the blond over to the couch and sat them both down.

"What has he done now?" Naruto took a deep breath and hesitantly began to tell Itachi what had been happening with Sasuke. He hadn't bothered to even mention the incident with the poem before because he had believed that with his flat refusal, that would be the end of it and there would be no point in upsetting his boyfriend. So that was where he had to begin now. Itachi's expression grew darker and darker as the blond went on. Hearing that Sasuke had actually kissed 'his' Naruto had his blood boiling in outrage and he would not allow the boy to continue any further with his story.

"I've heard enough," he said in a dangerously quiet voice. "Naruto, you are going to tell him who you are... and then I'm going to destroy him." Naruto almost smiled but then he realized Itachi was serious.

"I've already handled it. There's no need to go looking for any 'more' trouble," he protested.

"I beg to differ.." Itachi began but was cut off.

"Itachi, he's your brother. Please just let this go. It will never happen again. The semester is over as it is..."

"You have to tell him Naruto."

"You said you wouldn't force me," the blond reminded him.

"Why are you so against this?" The anger he'd been trying to hold back was beginning to spill over and he stood from the couch abruptly, Naruto following.

"I've had 'enough' with the confrontations and I don't want you beating up your brother! (No matter how stupid he's being)" Itachi felt that uneasy feeling rushing back full force, on top of his rage.

"Why are you defending him?! Why 'would' you?!"

"I'm not!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise.

"Did you like it?!" Itachi growled. The blond stepped back, eyes widening.

"What?"

"You won't let me get rid of him. You don't really want to get rid of him do you?"

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Naruto asked incredulously.

"Tell him the truth and let me teach him a lesson!"

"You're not listening! I told you I took care of it! He's your family Itachi! You might get on each other's nerves but you don't want to permanently damage your relationship! I can't let you hurt him. Not because of me."

"Yeah, you took care of it," Itachi retorted sarcastically. "You were so 'pissed off' that you feel the need to protect him huh? I can just imagine how you 'took care' of him."

"I can't 'believe' you would dare to accuse me of... Get out! Just get the hell out!" Tears of frustration, hurt, anger and just plain exhaustion had filled his blue eyes and were beginning to spill down his cheeks.

"Fine!" Itachi hissed and turned away, walking out without another word. The blond dropped back down onto the couch. Grabbing a throw pillow he buried his face in it and screamed until his throat hurt on top of everything else. God damn Uchiha's! Finally, curling up on his side, he hugged the pillow tightly to his chest and cried himself to sleep.



A/N; Oh look there 'is' some damn angst here. I guess every story need a little bit of it. lol I'm throwin' this at you a little early cause I'm off to the tattoo fest today. Yay!
Bremmington, I am indeed proud! You joined just to review? You mean you couldn't do it anonymously? Well damn! I thought I had fixed that. Never the less, I very much appreciate you going to the effort. Thank you so much! And sadistickiss, heheh you're funny. I like you. =^.^= kaa-san, to put it overly simply, he does it because he can. I believe I'll go into that in the next chap. OK then, I'm off. Until tomorrow!

p.s. Ok there! I'm sure it's fixed now. Later!