The Restricted Section

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do not own the basis for the story idea “The Restricted Section”.


The Restricted Section
By 11


Chapter 19

“Waiting long?”

“Temari you jerk! You’re the one who wanted to meet here in the first place.”

Crimson eyes watched the paler girl as she pouted in the blond girl’s brawny embrace.

“I got the tickets though. I was about to get us some pizza to sneak in the theater – mind if I leave you alone for a bit?” the blond girl’s lips brushed surreptitiously past dark locks to ghost at the smaller girl’s neck.

The dark-haired girl sighed and pulled away, eyes glancing around quickly; but most of the mall-goers looked like they were too preoccupied with their own tasks to notice. “Get me one with Canadian bacon?” she asked in some apathy.

“Of course.” The blond grinned before taking off ahead heading for the food court. The dark haired-girl sighed and leaned back against the rail by the theater, clear crystal eyes looking out over the ice rink below.

Crimson eyes looked over her vacant expression and dissatisfied countenance, a pale mouth curled up in a smile – he had time to kill.

“That was your girlfriend?”

The girl started, her eyes wide as she stared back at him.

“Sorry,” he apologized sheepishly, “I just wondered, I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Itachi – sorry if I caught you off guard?”

She watched him a moment longer sizing him up and she smiled back easily, “Right. It’s okay.”

“Is it an uncomfortable subject?” he wondered. She frowned, “your girlfriend, that is? I gather you’re not terribly public about it?”

“I suppose you could say that.” She glanced away.

“I’m sorry, does it make you uncomfortable?” he asked, taking a step back as if afraid he had offended her.

“No.” she shook her head, smiling slightly. “It’s just. You know.”

“Mind if I ask you something strange?”

Her expression did not alter. “Go ahead.”

“She’d good to you isn’t she?”

“Mostly.” The girl responded, giving nothing away.

Itachi held his smile, “Not all the time then?”

The girl shrugged.

“Does that bother you?”

“So… is this how you do it?” she asked cocking her head to the side, her grin widening, “You just poke questions and wait for a reaction to dig deeper? What do you do when you meet someone without doubt or fear?”

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Hinata, I’m a friend of Sasuke’s,” the girl told him fluidly, “It’s nice to finally meet you, Itachi. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“And what has my brother told you?” he wondered smile fading.

“It’s not just him you know. A surprising number of people know you either directly or indirectly. Word gets around, you know.” Hinata told him, “I wonder where you’ll run when everyone knows what you are.”

“And what’s that?” Itachi asked, a tone tainted in irritation.

The girl’s expression did not change, still completely at peace. “Destroyer of lives.”

“Poetic.”

“Not particularly.” She straightened her neck again, “I’m sensing some hostility. Or maybe it’s jealousy. Why do you try to put doubt in others?”

“Why do you date that blond trash-slut?”

Hinata’s expression darkened. “I love her. Don’t ever call her that again.”

“And you’re saying you have absolutely no questions in your relation to her?” Itachi sneered. “You’re full of it.”

“I trust her. She trusts me, and nothing can penetrate that trust.” Hinata glared.
Itachi laughed. “And if you saw her kiss a man?”

“She wouldn’t. Not ever.” Hinata growled.

“What if ‘you’ did?” He asked, his voice the last of a snarl.

“What?” Hinata started. He was too close. Suddenly his hand was knotted in her short hair.

Dark locks twisted around pale fingers as he pulled her head back. She gasped and he stepped toward her.

Crimson eyes bore down into clear. Hinata stared back in surprise, and some fear, as blood red eyes glared down into her.

Her hands came up to push him away. One latched her nails into his shoulder, his hand grasped her other wrist before it could smash toward his face.

She tried to jerk away but he held her fast. Everyone kept walking by – this wasn’t their concern.

She could-! “If you scream, you’re girlfriend will see you like this.” Itachi warned her gently.

“I wonder what she’d think if she saw you kiss another. Are you willing to test ‘her’ trust in you?” he sneered.

Hinata started in a moment of worry. If he kissed her, she wouldn’t be able to stop him – if Temari saw…?!

No. If Temari saw she’d talk to her first, she could tell her that it was Itachi, she could tell her it wasn’t supposed to happen. Temari would believe her, they loved each other.

Hinata set her jaw shut, she would not doubt. She would not be moved by this instant of fear he inspired.

Then his lips bit into hers – and she nearly cried out at the harsh pain and press of his mouth, teeth clacking against hers rough, and uncaring. He held her against him a moment longer before pulling away.

His hand gripping her hair was beginning to sting horribly. He was still looking into her, sneering, laughing, mocking, cold and hating, could he see her thoughts? Could she see his?

It scared her. It downright terrified her, the malice and anger in those crimson eyes, that anger, that… ‘hate’. But it wasn’t directed at her, not entirely.

“You loathe yourself.”

“What?” Itachi laughed, his hand gripping tighter on her hair and wrist until tears squeezed themselves from the corners of her eyes.

“So this is what you’re reduced to,” her voice squeaked out weaker than she had intended, “inspiring fear and using violence to get your kicks.”

His mouth twisted in a grimace of sorts and his hand gripped her tighter until she winced and gasped with the pain. It felt like her wrist would break, and Itachi’s face bore down on her, her eyes squeezed shut.

All at once his hands were gone, and Hinata faced front staring in apprehension at her would-be attacker. Crimson eyes regarding her with boredom. “Well you’re no fun at all.”

His hand lashed out toward her. Hinata didn’t have time to move before something sharp slashed into her cheek. Pale eyes caught the glint of red-stained steel before the knife flipped shut and returned to Itachi’s pocket.

So I’ve hit upon the truth.

Hinata started at the pain, but to her credit did no more than whimper at the fiery pain, as the shallow wound seeped a few drops of red down her cheek. “A souvenir, reminder.” He grinned back at her.

“It was nice to meet you too, Hinata.”

The pale girl grew paler and she touched her hand to her cheek. Fingers came away red.

Psychotic.

A grinning blond returned and in seconds the grin was gone replaced with concerned eyes and angry mouth.

Loathsome.

The wound was shallow enough, it would heal, the blood made it look worse than it really was.

Completely insane … the red-eyed demon. She smiled to herself: So I’ve hit upon the truth.

`

“You alright? You look shaken.”

Naruto laughed uneasily, “Yeah. I guess I am…”

Shaken – he felt uncertain, he was doubting himself again, he’d been doing that a lot lately. He remembered when everything about himself was so clear, and only recently everything he thought he knew was gone, and subject to question.

“Want to tell me about it?” the girl wondered, emerald eyes watching her friend with some concern.

“I’m…” he laughed, hand threading through his scalp fingernails scraping against the skin, “having a crisis over my sexual identity… again.”

Sakura blinked and snorted. She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh.”

“No I’d be laughing too, in a way I am laughing,” he shook his head, “since I thought I already figured this out… more or less anyway. You’d say I’m straight, right, except for Sasuke, but otherwise?”

“I can honestly say I have no idea. I don’t think anyone can, we can assume but it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true,” Sakura shrugged, “I personally think it probably comes in ‘shades’ between homosexual and heterosexual.”

I mean after it’s not like I’ve never slept with a girl. Sakura mused, but Naruto probably didn’t need to know that – too much information. “That’s just something people sort out for themselves. I thought you said you already had though?”

“I thought I did.” Naruto nails dug into his scalp again, as if he pressed hard enough the answers would just come pouring out of his skull.

“Is it the sex that bothers you?”

“No, not really.”

Sakura frowned. “Would you rather be having sex with me?”

“No!”

“Right.” Sakura nodded, as if she didn’t know the answer, “Do you love him?”

“Yes.” Naruto answered honestly. But love was breakable too… ‘… nothing lasts forever.’ “But… I wonder. If it’s the same? If it’s the same when he says he loves me.” Naruto flushed and buried his head in his arms at the omission.

He hadn’t even spoken to Sasuke since yesterday, somehow they’d managed to artfully avoid each other – or rather Naruto had managed to avoid Sasuke. It really was entirely his fault – no explanation was good enough for something like ‘that’.

“Do you love me, Naruto?”

“Yes.”

“Is it the same?” Sakura wondered.

“No.” Naruto frowned, “I would say that I like Sasuke… more?” he pursed his lips and tried again, “It is different, ‘stronger’ ina way? Also… ‘flexible’ maybe?”

He sighed, “It just seems like there’s something too easy and simple about just being happy with him, and I’m scared that it could break.”

‘… nothing lasts forever.’

“Only if you let it break.” Sakura frowned, “If neither of you want it to end, it won’t. If it’s easy to be happy around each other, that’s a good thing.”

“… nothing lasts forever.” He mumbled to himself frowning.

“Sorry?” Sakura leaned forward to try and hear him better over the café table.

“No, just something Itachi said.” Naruto shook his head in an attempt to clear it. Sakura frowned, and leaned back again.

“I’ve heard about him actually… Ino I guess knew a girl who- well anyway,” Sakura stopped herself before she launched into a long winded story about some terrible events that took place quite a while ago someplace else.

“I gotta tell you that you shouldn’t listen to that guy,” Sakura told him pointedly, “he has a very bad reputation.”

“Yeah, I know.” Naruto nodded, Jiraiya had said as much, so had Tsunade. “I know, it’s just difficult to get out of my head right now.”

“You have spoken with him since yesterday though, right?”

Naruto smiled awkwardly. “No.” he admitted, “I’ve been a bit of a chicken since then, in case you haven’t noticed the feathers.”

Sakura scowled at him and shook her head, flipping open her cell phone dialing a number. “Who are you calling?” Naruto asked, stomach sinking – I mean, she wouldn’t… she couldn’t be calling…

“Sasuke, hey,” Sakura smiled brightly over the phone, “I have someone who’d like to talk with you if that’s alright.”

“What?!” Naruto hissed at her before the girl pushed the phone into his hand, emerald eyes glaring into him with annoyance and a will more determined than his own.

“You are going to ask him if it’s a good time, and if you can meet at the park over there.” She pointed, “Do it!”

Naruto took the phone shakily, if it had been anyone else he probably could have gotten away with just hanging up, but not in this case. “Hello Sasuke.” Naruto swallowed, “Is this a bad time?”

He’d say yes. He’d start yelling at him, and Naruto could pull the phone away, hand it back, and they could both agree to let his boyfriend cool off a bit more before attempting to ask for forgiveness for a very heinous crime.

Would it be considered worse since he was with Sakura right now? Oh geez… he grimaced again, before Sasuke’s voice cut off all thought.

“Naruto!” He sounded so jovial, so normal – it sounded like he could be standing right next to him, about to put his arm around Naruto’s shoulders.

“I didn’t catch you last night, or this morning – I know Itachi talked to you yesterday.” He started off, hurriedly.

“I don’t know what he said to you, but I’m going to guess that’s the reason why things got weird then – so it’s fine. Really, at least I know its not you.”

An easy laugh, and Naruto felt like a dog – he doubted himself this much and Sasuke didn’t doubt him at all. He wondered if the other had too much faith in him. But didn’t he have faith in himself too? Where did that go?

“Sorry I overreacted, I should have heard you out.” Sasuke finished. His voice felt so close, and Naruto could almost imagine his embrace.

“No, I’m sorry I said her name.” he laughed awkwardly. Sakura was still glaring at him, she gestured her head at the park again. “Can we meet now? I’m pretty close to the main park. The fountain area?”

“The park? Sure – I’ll meet you there, fifteen minutes?”

“Yeah. See you then.” Naruto agreed, “Bye.”

The phone clicked off, and Naruto had to wonder what the hell he’d been thinking yesterday.

“You are comfortable with him too aren’t you?” Sakura mused delicately.

“Yes.”

“You already sorted out that you liked him before, right?”

“I did.”

“Then trust that assessment,” Sakura told him gently, “Don’t worry about later things, what happens, happens, and it will work out. You love him, so no matter what course things take it’ll be okay.”

He did already figure this out – he’d thought about it a while ago. How could a single moment of obscurity make him doubt his own choice?

“It’s okay Sakura,” Naruto grinned, tossing her phone back to her. “I won’t be listening to that guy anymore.” He leaned toward her a moment, his arm catching around her shoulders in a quick hug, “See you.”

She smiled after him as he bounded toward the park, he’d be early, but everything would be fine with those two. For all Naruto’s doubt, he had an awful lot of certainty in him.

Whatever wasn’t sorted, would be, and for now there wasn’t anything worth wondering about.

`

Crimson eyes lit up as they caught on a moving shock of bright blond hair. Who’d have thought he’d find his latest prey so soon. Perhaps he was blessed after all, a diseased mind wondered with a wry smile.

“It’s you again. I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon.”

The blond started at his voice, blue eyes locking onto him with a vibrant anger. He flinched back from the ‘scary look’ as if truly shocked. It did seem that the blond had thought about what he said; he looked worn.

He frowned and looked down sheepishly, “I’m sorry if I upset you before – that was not my intention I assure you. Perhaps I worry too much.”

“As if worry has anything to do with it.” The blond laughed, a bitter angry expression crossing his face. Itachi could have cooed with the paradox of that dangerous look on such an angelic face – it made him almost warm, almost delighted.

It was a single moment of satisfaction – too fleeting. He needed more, what should he say now?

“I’m hurt you think I was being insincere,” He bit his lip anxiously, “Or are you angry since there was a fight? I’m terribly sorry if you blame me – but if you’re that insecure about your own decisions-”

“I’m not.” Naruto told him coolly, his calmness bellied by an undertone of violence to his voice. “I decided a while ago. I’m fine with my choices – if I had any regrets I’d have addressed them already. Go away, I don’t want to hear anymore from you.”

Itachi made a sad face, knitting his eyebrows in an uncertain wary expression, “Well if you’re reacting like this, it seems there may be some truth to it…”

“Ha!” Naruto barked a laugh, “I’m just surprised that such a thing that you said could have made me reconsider my own will. You really are something – trying to make me confused, even when I’m not. I’m not confused at all.”

“Oh?”

“I’m not entirely gay – probably, not as if it matters.” Naruto growled, “I like Sasuke – that’s all there is to it. I like him, he likes me, and I enjoy being with him: end of story. What else is there to think about?”

“You think something like that will last?” Itachi sighed sadly.

“There you go trying to purposely confuse me,” Naruto’s eyes darkened, “If I want it to last, it will – I have no intention of leaving him or hurting him.”

“Hurt him… could it be that you-?”

“Shut up. I don’t want to ever see you again.” Naruto growled cutting him off, “Get lost! I won’t be your tool to hurt Sasuke.”

Itachi’s false face almost broke. This little brat… was proving to be a bit of a nuisance wasn’t he?

`

“No matter how many times you read it, there’s nothing new there.”

Karin huffed and threw the article back to the table burying her head in her arms, “There’s got to be more to it though…” she grumbled, “I’m sorry, harping on this isn’t helping you I’m sure. Do you need me to do it elsewhere?”

“It’s fine, but you won’t find it in that article, or anywhere but someone’s head.” Suigetsu told her calmly.

She frowned and adjusted her glasses, “You mean Kisame’s head?” she wondered quietly. Suigetsu didn’t answer her immediately.

“I told Sasuke that is probably has nothing to do with that guy,” Suigetsu didn’t move, his voice didn’t change, “but it probably does.”

“You know that?” Karin asked curious. “I know… Kisame considered Itachi a friend right? Even when everyone told him, and he knew, that Itachi was bad news. Is that why, you think so?”

“There’s that,” Suigetsu said, “I didn’t mention it, since it was Itachi, but the last few e-mails he sent me he mentioned that the elder Itachi was in town.”

Karin frowned.

“Around that time his e-mails became less frequent, he’d stopped calling altogether. There’s probably a connection between those two, if not between Itachi and this.”

Her throat stuck as she considered it, and shook her head. “But there’s no way it was a murder, there were no signs to suggest that right?”

Suigetsu shrugged, “I don’t know,” he breathed, “But that guy definitely had something to do with it.”

`

This brat… was just annoying.

Itachi stared down at the blond, his face dissolved into an expression off annoyance, a malicious glare. Blue eyes met his evenly, and his anger grew.

What kind of punk was this? His act was perfect, even if someone had told him shouldn’t he have been more inclined to disbelieve?

Itachi’s fingers curled around the switchblade in his pocket – but it was too soon. He moved – a quick snake-like movement. Naruto stumbled back. The slap of skin and scrape of nails flashing across his cheek.

His skin screamed and he glared back at Itachi, he felt his cheeks where the skin no doubt was turning bright red – it burned, and his blood burned hotter. His fists curled and he made ready to strike – a paler fist beat him to it.

Itachi’s face flew to the side, and he moved back from the blow, as his attacker stepped between him and the blond.

His face flooded with blood, and the sting carried through to his bone – and he could imagine it shattered and broken in his skull.

It probably wasn’t, but it hurt enough that he could see it, the fractured bone – small white points sticking out from the red skin like teeth from the gums.

Laughter bubbled up inside him and he couldn’t keep it in. His little brother. Such a fool. Was he seriously being allowed to live this sort of fantasy? After all he had done, was this a joke? Was it some strange idea of vindictive justice?

“What’s so funny?” Sasuke asked coldly, and Itachi turned to look back at the boys, not standing side by side – gold and black, day and night: so they were all against him now? He laughed again at that.

“Leave.” Naruto told him calmly, and his laughter died in his throat choked back by unmarked fury.

“What did you hope to accomplish by coming here?” that was Sasuke asking now, and Itachi stood back up staring back at the younger two.

What had he hoped for? For his world to continue, he’d hoped for reassurance that his world could continue, because wasn’t this boy here supposed to be just a reflection of himself?

Already people nearby had stopped to watch the exchange, it was strange that he didn’t mind so much right now. This was in public view – but this kind of exchange, it didn’t even seem real.

Nonetheless, this had become too troublesome for him.

“Sasuke,” Itachi mused, smiling a sinister smile, “Do you think this is the only mode I’ve ever used to destroy someone?”

His feet turned beneath him and he was gone – his body flying down the sidewalk. He was running, but like this it hardly felt like he was running away.

Sasuke stared after him in confusion, what did he mean by that? He didn’t understand that part at all.

Then a burst of bright gold color rushed by him; taking off after the disappearing figure. Sasuke took off in pursuit as well, catching up faster to his blond companion.

“Why are we chasing him?” Sasuke asked, shouting to be heard as they hurried on, Naruto’s eyes never glancing back at him – eyes trained on their target.

The blond frowned, “It seems like if we don’t make him stop now, then he could do something really bad.”

Really bad?

Sasuke’s eyes turned back in front of him, as the two pursued his brother – something really bad… but Sasuke’s only fear was that his brother would hurt Naruto.

“I’ll catch him,” Sasuke told him, “You go stay with some people alright, someone we know – Hinata or Shino or something.”

That way he wouldn’t have to worry--

“No way.” The blond refused immediately. Sasuke’s eyes snapped back to his partner. “I’m staying right with you.”

Sasuke frowned.

“I can take care of myself you know.”

Naruto told him, grinning. Sasuke tried to breathe, but it was difficult when running and they didn’t have time or breath to argue. “Fine.”

`

Itachi finally came to a stop, it was an empty area down by the lower shops, parking lot, too far from the main area to be used too much. He stooped to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his face.

But turning he nearly laughed again – Sasuke and Naruto, running up behind him, “So you followed me, even here, little brother.” He wondered quietly under his breath, and broke into new peals of laughter.

“What you said before…” Sasuke started between breaths, “Does that have something to do with what you did to Kisame?”

Itachi’s laughter died again, and he couldn’t raise his eyes from the pavement. Kisame… now he was an idiot… a real idiot. A complete fool, and it had been all his fault – that idiot, why would he have done that?

Sasuke froze when he didn’t respond, “You did have something to do with that, didn’t you?” he growled. “You were both in Hills last, you were definitely together-”

“Oh yes, we were together,” Itachi said calmly, “He let me stay with him, he was always way too nice to me.”

Sasuke’s didn’t respond, Itachi straightened his back not lifting his eyes to face his brother, instead his empty gaze drifted across the lot to the buildings, and the sparsely planted trees.

“I told him I’d take such good care of him,” Itachi murmured quietly, “I really did, he said it felt good – I enjoyed it, he enjoyed it, there wasn’t a problem there. But he didn’t even know how much I wanted him. I really did need him.”

“He didn’t see what it did to me whenever he left me alone, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked to spend time away like he did.” Itachi’s tone stiffened, “We spent all our time together – it was fun, it was lots of fun… I didn’t even need to see you Sasuke.”

He laughed again, tossing his head back, crimson eyes finally turning to his brother, “But he got bored of me, he was actually getting tired of me – can you believe that?”

He asked, so calm, as if asking about someone who bought a particularly ugly sweater, “He was bored – he was never afraid of me.”

He laughed again shaking his head, “He was afraid of me. He became afraid of me, after he promised he’s never fear me.” He snickered, as if he made a particularly clever joke.

Naruto stared, blue eyes taking in something disgusting, pitiable and grossly stitched together from broken pieces of garbage. Sasuke reached back, his fingers curling around the blonde’s, tan fingers entwined back in his as well.

“That idiot.” Itachi sighed, leaning back against the chain link fence. His face was too calm, “the one time I wasn’t right by his side, and the idiot goes and jumps off a bridge into the river.”

Sasuke shuddered and his grip tightened around Naruto’s hand. So he had caged him… but he’d never do that to Naruto, never ever. Even if Naruto wouldn’t be just his, if Naruto ever wanted to leave – he’d never cage him. Definitely never.

Naruto wouldn’t leave… he wouldn’t.

The blond’s hand squeezed him back, and his heart beat steadier. No, Naruto wouldn’t leave him.

“Well so that was that.” Itachi shrugged, staring back at his brother, “You wanted to know.”

“Sounds like you tried to isolate him, cut him off,” Sasuke stared back at his brother coldly.

“That’s abuse.” Naruto’s whisper echoed, and Itachi started at the blond, crimson eyes flashing towards blue.

“So of course he got fed up with you,” Sasuke continued, “If you wouldn’t let him go,” Sasuke frowned shivering at the concept, Naruto’s hand against him keeping him from falling into his own thoughts entirely, he could have vomited because of it.

“He must have thought it was his only way out.” Naruto finished for him quietly, and Sasuke held back the sickness.

Itachi’s eyes flashed and he stood back up from the fence again, stepping forward fury in his eyes, “It was NOT like that!” he hissed, “He was a fool! Just like everyone else!”

He pointed a single accusing finger toward Naruto, “Just like that stupid blond there!” he growled, “Don’t you see that much, Sasuke? You’ll be left alone soon too – so what does it matter?”

Naruto flinched away from the hysterical fury that pulsed through every word, but Sasuke recognized this, he wasn’t sure how, but he did – Itachi was alone now. He had no one, so he came back to his little brother.

Then he’d wreak havoc there, just like he used to, for his amusement, because he could, so he could continue to pretend that everything was just as it was before. So that it wouldn’t matter if he was really and truly alone again.

He felt sick again, and soothed his thumb over Naruto’s hand, the blond’s fingers stroking against the back of his own.

“Sasuke,” Itachi shook his head, “What? Are you still too young to understand? This-?”

“You feel powerless.”

“What?” Itachi started.

“You can’t make yourself happy,” Sasuke continued, the rising color to Itachi’s face making truth apparent.

“Shut up.”

“Other people can’t make you happy.”

“Shut up!”

“So you hurt other people so you can feel like you are powerful.”

“Shut up!!”

Itachi’s voice rose in a roar, his hand flipped forth a flash of steel as he lurched forward – this idiot – this idiot little brother! Foolish!

Sasuke lurched back, forcing Naruto back as he avoided the intial strike, running forward to catch his brother’s fist before he moved again – “Naruto stay back!”

Itachi’s strength was great, and he threw Sasuke off. “You idiot! You think you know something?!”

The knife flashed again, dangerously closed to his throat. “You know NOTHING!!” First blood – and Sasuke’s jawline bled red.

“See? Nothing!”

“Face it Itachi.” Sasuke goaded, as Itachi’s movement became more precise with lack of rage.

A jab here, and he lurched to the side, a stab from the left, swerve to the right, lock his arm, but he’s moved again.

“Why are you so scared of the truth?”

“What makes you think that any of that – bullshit! – is true?!” Itachi snarled stabbing toward him, again, arm twisting toward him. Catching on his arm. A slice through the jacket; just nicked the skin.

Sasuke smirked, and Itachi’s blood screamed in agonizing rage – “You wouldn’t be so angry if it wasn’t.”

Itachi cried out aloud as he flew forward. His knife missed its target. But his other hand twisted and caught Sasuke’s arm. “Shut up!!”

Dragging his brother back toward the ground. Gleaming blade held high. “SHUT UP!!”

Itachi never moved to strike – his head knocked to the side. The resounding sound of the crack of his skull, first struck back by Naruto’s shin – a kick swung upward from the ground, forcing Itachi’s whole body back to the ground.

The second crack of bone on the pavement as he crumpled there. His fingers loosed, the switch blade clacked to the pavement

Naruto’s hand propped in front of him, and Sasuke took it standing back up as they moved toward Itachi’s body – Naruto secured the knife, and Sasuke leaned forward to check his pulse.

His pulse still beat – a rapid quick-fire pace. He was breathing hard still, but his eyes had begun to dilate, water seeped from the edges.

Broken. But he was broken before too… just a façade of something dangerous and strong, Sasuke frowned – to think that he was really this weak in reality.

“Call an ambulance.”

Naruto clicked open his phone, the hospital – it took less than thirty minutes for the ambulance to arrive.

Itachi had become mostly conscious by then but he wasn’t speaking to anyone yet, or maybe he was pretending to still be out of it so he wouldn’t have to.

“At least we know where he is now.” Naruto said at last after the dull wail of the sirens joined the background noise, the two boys sitting on their way with Itachi to the hospital, in silence.

Sasuke still felt angry… even at someone so disgusting and weak, he still felt such acute anger. “Everything he did, just because he was like that. That’s even worse than the reason he gave me before: ‘Because I could.”

“But it’s the same isn’t it? ‘Because I’m weak.’ ‘Because I could.’? He could because he was weak.”

Trying to steal others’ happiness. Ha.

Sasuke looked over at the blond. Naruto shrugged, “I dunno.” He breathed out, “I’m sorry.” For what it was worth, and Sasuke nodded in acceptance of that.

Naruto’s hand moved next to his again, and his fingers curled eagerly around that source of comfort and resilience. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Sasuke smiled, his heart beating calmly again. “Or you.”

“Or me.” The blond agreed.

He has nothing left for him here now – like this, he really is broken.

After the nurses had patched him up, an IV was attached – why did they have to make such a fuss, it was a minor concussion.

Itachi only had minor internal bleeding – the doctor even said it would heal up by the end of the weak. It annoyed Sasuke somehow, all this trouble over him.

Itachi turned to face his brother after the nurses had all finally drifted out. “Sasuke, I, that is-” he broke off and tried again, “I’m really sorry. I don’t know what I could possibly ever say to-”

Those eyes, they were hard, and his voice was dancing, altered purposely. Sasuke felt his jaw set in new irritated anger. “Just stop.”

“W-what?” Itachi frowned, such a weak and vulnerable expression, milking his ‘frail’ image for all it was worth. Even now he was faking everything – what for? Did he think he could try and take back his trust to break him again?

“I only have one thing to say to you: Leave town, as soon as you leave the hospital.” Sasuke told him coldly.

“Sasuke I’m your brother,” crimson eyes seemed to almost well with tears, but the water water wasn’t there anymore, “I love-”

“I don’t love you anymore, brother or no.” Sasuke told him. “You abandoned me, now I’m the one leaving you behind.”

He didn’t want to hear in that fake voice, how much Itachi ‘loved’ him. This said from the person who less than an hour before tried to stab a switchblade through his throat. Really – give it a rest.

Sasuke stalked out of the room, Naruto waiting by the door, looking in by the window, pensive eyes considering the figure within.

“In a way, he’s almost pitiable.” Naruto considered turning to Sasuke, “because one day he will die all alone, unhappy, and unloved.”

“It is a shame,” Sasuke agreed, but he couldn’t quite bring himself even to pity the grotesque monster, “what a waste of human being.”

He turned away with a shudder. To think, to consider… even the thought that at one point he came so close to ending up being just like that disgusting creature. Naruto stepped beside him, and Sasuke slipped his arms around him, pulling him close.

The blond’s arms winding around his back as well, and he breathed in sun and grass and wind.

But Sasuke was not Itachi, and he knew he never would be.

“Come on – let’s get some food. Good for the spirit; lifts them high.” Naruto told him with a grin, “Maybe a warm drink too, right?”

“Right.” Sasuke agreed following him out – and somehow they found themselves at Tsunade’s diner. Sometimes he wondered if the rest of these people had lives – they were always there!

“Hinata! Temari! People!”

“You always only acknowledge the girls – it’s upsetting. I feel like I don’t matter.” Shino frowned.

“Shino of course you matter, but saying so many names is…” Naruto trailed off as he and Sasuke pulled up chairs.

“You could just say ‘hey guys’.” Temari suggested with a ‘look’ at the blond before her eyes settled on Sasuke, “Sasuke – what happened to your face?!”

“Sasuke?!” Hinata cried noticing the same redstained bandage across Sasuke’s jawline.

“Dude? Did you get in a fight or something?” Shino wondered leaning forward to check out the wound as well.

“He got nicked on the arm as well – but you should have seen the other guy!” Naruto grinned bragging for his boyfriend.

“You act as if they’re your battle scars.” Sasuke mused in mock annoyance, “Yeah so this was this twenty-foot tall monster, and I had my broadsword and cute magician girl, all set to go save the princess in the tower.”

“Magician girl? Princess? Jerk!” Naruto muttered in amusement, “You’ve been three timing me again?!”

“Only cause you’re annoying.”

“That’s so mean!” Naruto cried in mock offense, “You are so not the man I married a year ago!”

“Has it been a whole year?” Shino wondered aloud.

“Almost, a few more weeks and it will be I think.” Hinata mused counting off the months. “It was August wasn’t it? When project you-know-what started?”

“Project lamest-name-ever? Yeah I think so.” Temari affirmed.

“Dude you gave the project a name?” Sasuke wondered, “Sounds like you put a lot of thought into it too.”

“Yeah it was totally tough to come up with too,” Temari continued, “I mean it’s not like we just sat around musing about something like ‘he needs a taste of his own medicine’, or anything. It was totally tough.”

“Isn’t that a touchy subject though?” Shino wondered awkwardly glancig between Sasuke and Temari.

“Nope,” Sasuke grinned, “Doesn’t bug me at all – not anymore anyway.” He said leaning over with a devilish smirk his lips reaching for Naruto’s neck and latching briefly, before Naruto laughed and pulled away – both grinning back at each other.

“Okay, just don’t make me sick guys, come on,” Shino rolled his eyes. “So seriously, how’d you get that cut? It looks clean, a knife or something?”

“Itachi.” Sasuke answered simply. A startle of silence taking the table briefly before Temari pounced on it.

“Is he in jail now then?”

“Temari!” Hinata cried at her insensitive partner.

“Well is he? You said ‘should have seen the other guy’ so he’s what?”

“Hospital.” Naruto said, “I guess I gave him a concussion.”

“It was two against one, what did he expect?” Sasuke shrugged.

Naruto sneered, “Even though you told me to stay back.”

“I’m very grateful love, thank you so much.” Sasuke told him easily. Then his phone rang – ah geez, what now? The hospital? He flipped the phone open. “Hello?”

“Sasuke Uchiha?” It was one of the nurses.

“Yes.” What now?

“We just thought we’d call to let you know – your brother is missing from his room.”

“What?!”

Naruto and everyone looked over at him, “Yes. … Right. Thank you.” He clicked the phone off and stood, Naruto with him.

“Itachi’s missing from his room – they’re looking for him now.”

“Aw for-!” Naruto bit his lip and followed Sasuke out. Temari and Hinata shot up too – Shino followed, Shizune calling after them to say she was adding that to their tab.

What was that idiot doing now?!

`

‘You can’t make yourself happy’

That was why he was so unhappy?

‘Others can’t make you happy’

Kisame… he’d thought he could be happy, but Kisame wasn’t?

‘You hurt others to make yourself feel powerful’

Wasn’t that the truth – the rush of watching something so bright and lovely become something ugly and repulsive.

‘You are powerless’

He shivered in the air, it was becoming evening. He could see the sun setting over the roofs of the buildings – for his last sunset he’d have preferred to see the sun set over the ocean, but then he never could have everything he wanted.

Itachi felt the laughter bubble up inside of his again, looking out at the orange and blue colors across the sky. His laughter built into a torrent and finally tore past his lips and he couldn’t stop.

He couldn’t stop his eyes from welling up either, as if they wanted to laugh as well, but only water could come from it. It was true – it was all true, everything that he had said.

His fingernails curled into his skin creating deep indentations of half moons into his arms. Was he ever really happy he wondered idly, he’d thought he was, or could be, when he was with Kisame.

But he’d hated it so much whenever there was anyone else around, whenever Kisame expressed interest in anything other than him.

It was as if that thing or person would be able to snatch Kisame away from him and then he’d never have that chance at happiness.

‘…you caged him…’

But he’d held him too tightly?

Itachi’s eyes burned, and the water poured out – but they didn’t understand, Kisame didn’t understand, just how much he’d needed him. He’d needed him with him every moment or every day – he couldn’t live without him.

But here he was: the roof of the hospital. He’d meant to just walk out – probably the street but when he considered it he didn’t want to be anywhere with people even for a moment and so he wound up here.

It was so high up and there was a pretty strong breeze – at least he could see the sunset.

That was supposed to be beautiful, that was supposed to be something to be happy about, something that made people feel good. He didn’t feel especially great yet though.

Perhaps he never would be happy. Yet Sasuke was… he wanted that happiness, he wished it was him instead of Sasuke – because Sasuke could escape again, so why couldn’t he give up some happiness for him?

Why couldn’t he be more like Sasuke? What did he do differently? Weren’t they the same?

Kisame… if Kisame had been stronger… no if Itachi had been stronger, if he hadn’t done the things he did.

But it was too late for him – even if he changed, somehow, someway – he didn’t know how, he didn’t know the way, he probably wouldn’t even accept it.

There were already too many wrongs to make right. He’d have thought by now that Sasuke too would have been so far gone as well – yet somehow that foolish little brother had managed to save himself.

His eyes were dry again and he blinked back the salt from his eyelashes. How had he done it – Sasuke had been so weak. Somehow he had found strength…

Itachi smiled grimly, he didn’t have that strength. He glanced at the bottle he brought up next to him and looked away again.

He stood up and walked carefully to the egde – it was an awful long way down, and he couldn’t move. Not even to jump – even if he urged himself a hundred times he wouldn’t move at all.

But the wind might push him over, and he scurred back from the edge, his heart beating too fast for now. He crawled back to the bottle. He knew he would be too cowardly to jump. He’d probably be too nervous to drink either.

But this was something else, and he picked up the needle. He stuck it in the top and drew out a couple milliliters, the amount really didn’t matter too much but he still meticulously chose the task to measure exactly six of them.

He stuck it into his arm, exactly where he knew the vein would be and he pressed down. Cyanide – injected directly to his bloodstream.

He smiled slightly as the needle emptied and he drew it back out putting the cap on the top and laying it gently by the bottle.

Too cowardly to jump – he wished this way would be faster but he would probably be too cowardly to even use a gun. He breathed deeply willing his heart to slow further, the poison would work faster then.

Good for Sasuke, Sasuke was happy. Itachi never was, never would be.

Crimson eyes turned toward the sunset, watching as it slowly sunk below the line of buildings and the colors disappeared from the sky.

It was very likely, that Kisame hated him now, he must have really hated him; but maybe he could still join him.

`

The funeral was Sunday.

Sasuke had been unusually quiet since his brother’s body was found on the roof of the hospital – another suicide, just like Kisame.

Suigetsu and Karin, even Juugo had turned up for the funeral, to see Sasuke. Gaara had taken Ed back for the day as well.

No one even came for Itachi. But that guy would have expected that, if he expected he’d even have a funeral.

Hinata held Temari’s hand through the service, watching Sasuke’s blank expression – he didn’t cry, not once. Maybe that was to be expected though after everything.

Shikamaru showed but at some point seemed to have fallen asleep during the service – Shino had had to wake him up when they went afterward for food and reception.

“It’s too somber. ‘Itachi’ died! Shouldn’t we be having a party?” Is what Temari wanted to say but this time she got the feeling that the party would be a private matter between a few people.

Right now, this was the quiet disgust for someone who took their own life, who played at his own power only to turn out so small and insignificant.

“Coward.” Sasuke muttered as he and Naruto made their way back – Gaara still had Ed, he and Naruto had mutually agreed that the poor lizard would suffocate under the heavy atmosphere that would be around for a short while.

Gaara would probably wind up pawning him off to Temari anyway… if the way the redhead had been watching his sister during the funeral was any indication.

Naruto’s hand reached the back of the raven-head’s neck and curled into his hair. “It’s okay.” He told him with a smile. “It’ll all be okay.” He pressed his lips to Sasuke’s neck and looked back at him.

The paler youth’s mouth curled slightly and he nodded. “Just-”

“-unbelievable.”

He breathed out. “Yeah.”

It was all over, Itachi was gone – for good. This too shall pass. Sasuke’s hand around Naruto’s once more, and they walked side by side returning.

Sakura had appeared briefly before she had to get back to an earlier appointment.

The boys saw her again days later, with news of goodbyes:

“I’m moving back to Suna, with Ino for graduate school.” She told them smiling, invited out to a ‘cheesewich’ café – which can only be described as a place that serves mediocre tea, cute and tiny various sandwiches, and really tasty cheeses.

“Wow really?” Naruto wondered in awe, “I thought you already had your four years…?”

“I do, but to become a doctor I have to do more than that. I took this year for interning as a med student – now I’m going to back to get my PhD.” She explained excitedly, “I’ll really miss you guys. It was great to see you again, Naruto.”

“I miss you already.” The blond pouted over-accentuated.

Sakura snorted, “I’ll write.” She told him shaking her head, her eyes falling back to Sasuke, her cheeks pinked and she looked away again. Admission unspoken:

“I’ll probably always carry you in a special place in my heart, Sasuke.”

All three stood, and her arms wrapped around them, “I wish the both of you the greatest happiness.”

“You too.”

So she went on her way.

`

“Itachi only came back to bother Sasuke since everyone else, everywhere else, can’t stand him anymore,” the older redhead declared to the blond woman, “because of his uncaring nature, lack of empathy, and cruelty.”

“Sasori, quite the informant on Itachi, aren’t you?” Tsunade wondered.

“All the old red-coat club keeps tabs on each other.” Sasori shrugged, “I’ll miss Kisame, he was fun to check in on.”

“So all things really do come back to you,” Tsunade mused as she finished clearing the other side of the countertop. “Well enjoy your root-beer. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Much appreciated, Tsunade.” Sasori told her. His younger cousin coming up on him from behind.

“Sasori.” He started.

“Gaara.” Sasori acknowledged without turning.

“Take care of Ed for me?”

Why do you want to get rid of me?! Ed wondered tearfully.

“Absolutely not.”

“It’s just another day.”

Oh sure ignore the lizard.

“No.”

“Why?”

Yup, totally not here. Stupid humans.

“Deidara won’t come near me if he thinks I’ve been handling a lizard.”

Gaara screwed up his mouth and willed more words to come out – this was painful…

“Then he’s not a good boyfriend.”

“He’s fine – why don’t you ask Shino?”

“He took Ed yesterday and the day before.”

Sasori would have grimaced and whined, but as all red-headed men do not show their true emotions in this city he looked just like he did at the start of the conversation.

“I saw Temari over in the left-back corner.”

Gaara immediately trotted off.

Sasori gulped down the rest of the root beer – oh how it burned! – and darted for the exit. Except that Subaku’s don’t ‘gulp’ or ‘dart’ but that said he managed to finish his drink and flee the premises within three minutes.

But Subaku’s don’t ‘flee’ either. That said he left the premises – very quickly.

`

“Isn’t there some midterm next weekend?”

“No! I don’t want to worry about that now.”

“What do you want to worry about then?”

“I don’t want to worry at all.” Naruto laughed, “I’m sick of worry – aren’t you?”

“Definitely.”

The door shut behind them, and Naruto laughed as Sasuke’s lips caught at the back of his neck.

“You’re quite quirky aren’t you?”

Sasuke smirked, “You more so. Since when did you become such a pervert? I barely touched you.”

“That’s so cold Sasuke – are you saying you have no interest in me?”

“Oh interest is what you want?” Sasuke sighed, “Well I guess I’ll have to go elsewhere since there’s nothing of interest around here.”

“So cold – so very very cold.” Naruto ‘tch’ed, “Even though I forgave you for cheating on me with the princess and magician girl!”

“What princess? What magician girl?” Sasuke wondered, “Since that magician girl has a girlfriend scarier than me, and the princess is you.” His arms caught the blond at the waist.

“Uh Sasuke?” Naruto asked warily, “I love you and all, but I don’t think I’m ready to go out in drag for you.”

“That’s fine – I like you better without clothes anyway.” Sasuke stated decidedly tackling the blond backward catapulting them both back into the couch.

Naruto barked a laugh on contact, squirming underneath him to a better position. “I could say the same about you.” He murmured, tanned fingers sneaking beneath cloth, tender fingers brushing softly against the flesh of his partner’s abdomen.

Sasuke sighed and arched into the touch – a simple motion and his arms squeezed briefly, affectionately, around him.

His arm embed against Sasuke’s chest, between warm cloth and heated skin, and he breathed in the scent of musk and clean, spicy and concrete. Just lying here like this he felt so alive, so at peace.

“I love you.”

Sasuke’s mouth smiled and lips pressed soft to his collarbone. “I love you too.” And Naruto arched upward tugging on Sasuke’s shirt to shift him closer.

He heard the other’s short laugh and then lips feathered across his neck. Pale fingers slid in at the sides of his shirt, skimming up across skin and muscle.

Naruto snorted in mirth at the action leaning back, and Sasuke’s lips nipped across the tightened skin of his throat. In retribution Naruto’s hand shifted under Sasuke’s shirt, fingers splaying out until they located their given target.

Sasuke hissed and pressed his body tighter against him when Naruto’s fingers found a hardened nub and repeatedly stroked across and around – “Mean.” His voice hissed as golden fingers played his flesh.

“Teasing.” He accused, and in response Sasuke pulled the blond’s shirt up to his shoulders both his hands turning to the same action – thumb brushing roughly across the skin.

Naruto yelped and arched, involuntarily pressing his hips against Sasuke’s leg – “Now ‘that’ is teasing.” He told the blond, words and lips ghosting over the blond’s before the other pink pair cut him off in seamless connection.

Naruto’s mouth moving with liquid joy against the other, drinking in winter and chocolate, twining his tongue with the others’. Lost in the sensation of touch and tongue and taste and scent, they only broke apart for air.

A pale cheek rested against his neck, turning, raven tresses soft against his chin and warm lips pressed to the skin. Pulling away only to lift his shirt up overhead – so arms could better wrap around him, the blond’s body held flush to the paler youth.

The fabric of Sasuke’s shift, hiked up, shifted against Naruto’s chest, and he hisses as the cloth rubbed across his skin. His hips rocking gently against Sasuke – a growing uncomfortable need building up.

Naruto’s hands moved to seize his partner’s shirt, pushing him back far enough to return the favor of removing the shirt. Lips crushed back together and tanned arms wound around Sasuke’s shoulders tugging him close.

His partner’s body - a pulsating warmth of flesh, a throbbing need identical to his own set beating insistently in time with his own burning loins. And Sasuke reveled in the motions, that soft mouth against him warm skin pressed to his own.

Southern regions beat a frantic pase, pulsing, begging, pleading, rocking, pressing tight against clothes in need of release. Despite this Sasuke was perfectly content to rock it out – his loins pulsing jointly against Naruto’s.

His hands were content to press to warm skin and his mouth to move languidly against the blond – though his partner’s movements became more hurried.

Naruto’s mouth broke from his and his neck fell lax, teeth and tongue moving to scrape against Sasuke’s throat, his hot breath hurried and erratic as his hips bucked hard against his partner; the raven-haired youth couldn’t choke back a moan.

“C-…ca-… can we?” came the sheepish mutter between hurried breaths, his hips unable to stop themselves as they rocked harshly against him. Sasuke’s own rolled to meet him, growing increasingly tight in their encasements with every movement.

“Yeah.” He whispered back breathlessly, taking a moment to carry the sensation before he slid out from under the blond.

Naruto fell forward on his hands with a hiss, blue eyes dark with lust and frustration as he looked after Sasuke – “Bedroom.” Sasuke offered as explanation as the blond moaned a little and hurried after him, both stumbling too quickly toward the back.

The blond’s bulge was so pronounced already, and he winced as they walked – was it that painful already?

Sasuke’s hand stroked across the front as they stumbled into the room – and Naruto yelped his hips involuntarily pressing forward, the hardness filling up Sasuke’s hand even through the fabric.

Quick movements and the blond’s pants dropped to the floor, stepping out and forward, bare hips rocking insistently against Sasuke even through his own clothes.

Tanned hands returned the favor to discard the lower garment – kicked away to somewhere. Bodies fell together toward the soft bedding – skin to skin, lips quickly pressed to lips, loins moving together in quick rough motion.

Sasuke was the first to pull back, his hands holding Naruto’s hips to the bed – and the blond groaned, straining against the obstruction, his member pulsing hot and red. “Sasuke…” he growled trying to shift again.

“You can be a little patient right?” Sasuke wondered nuzzling against the blond’s chest, lips tracing the ridge of muscle. His tongue trailing to taste the sheen of sweat beginning to build across golden skin.

Naruto panted and whined, his hips still straining where Sasuke held him, and a whimper as Sasuke’s mouth trailed lower, lips fluttering against the skin of his hip and beginning of thigh. Only a little lower…

Naruto shifted and started with an impatient gasp as Sasuke moved, but instead of putting his mouth someplace useful his lips moved over the inside of his thighs, tongue painting languid patterns too close – not close enough – to a place that throbbed passionately for his tongue.

“Tease – tease… jerk.” Naruto gasped, attempting to wrench his hips free again. He failed.

Naruto sat up on his elbows instead to glare back into dark eyes thick with emotion, drowning pools of haze, want, and affection, as lips and tongue caressed the inside of his thighs.

A hand rose to shakily stroke along Sasuke’s hair – dark raven-black hair softer than feathers rippling through his fingers, and Sasuke moaned against his skin the warm too-soft touch sending a shudder through him.

Naruto sat up and moved his hands to grip Sasuke’s shoulders, fingers pressing in and kneading the skin.

Sasuke sighed resting his cheek against Naruto’s leg as the other pressed impromptu movements into his muscles drawing circles and rubbing over hard and soft until the stiff muscles peeled back under his hands.

“Come on – don’t fall asleep on me,” Naruto chided gently, his voice too deep and husky to be taken seriously, and Sasuke moved to lie over him again, his hips still held painfully aloft from Naruto for the time being – or it would be over too quickly.

Naruto’s mouth latched onto Sasuke’s neck and his arms wound around to Sasuke’s back where they continued to press and draw in his muscle and sinew shifting the skin.

Sasuke’s mouth reciprocated drawing hot tongue across Naruto’s pulse, his heartbeat still strong and fast beating hard in his chest and through his veins.

His body relaxed and his chest met with the blond’s, their bodies absorbing each other’s breath and heartbeats felt clearly thrumming through each of them – too fast, too hurried, uncomfortably hot and wound.

Naruto yelped, and he must have lowered too much as well, because he gasped out and shook when his member slid against Naruto’s both appendages pounding with new vigor and strain at the slick wet hot contact even if it was only for a moment.

“I can’t take this!” Naruto gasped in irritation his arms holding Sasuke tightly as his body roughly flew forward knocking Sasuke back and turning the boys over.

Sasuke cried out as Naruto’s hips ground back into him, the blond’s groan audible as well as he shifted them together harshly – weeping appendages rubbing together, twitching and pulsing in time to each other – hips gyrating and rocking to make more contact.

When he managed to get his eyes open enough, Sasuke lifted himself his hands to grasp around the blond’s shoulders pulling him closer, his mouth seeking out the other – swallowing up spice and heat, life and light.

Too hot lips burning his own and driving his pulse faster, his hips still moving erratic and fast to meet the blond’s irregular motions. But it was too tight already – he was too close to the edge – it would end – too soon!

Sasuke’s hands dropped to Naruto’s hips gripping them tightly to slow their pace, and Naruto moaned breaking the kiss – hurried panting breaths pushing against his neck as the blond groaned and wriggled his hips attempting to continue faster.

“Sasuke…” he whined, a growl beginning in golden tones. Frustration and need evident in voice and demeanor. His shaft crying clear globs and jewels dripping down, red skin bright and pulsing, shaking with need.

“Can I? … Inside you?”

Blue eyes turned to dark onyx, the answer given an order and plea, “Yes.” As long as it didn’t stop here; because it was Sasuke and it was okay.

This had happened before – and this was Sasuke. This was the person he cared about. This was the person he loved.

Naruto willed himself to stay still for the agonizing few seconds that Sasuke took to get at the lubricant, before Sasuke sat up before him as well, lips touching to his neck, as warm wet fingers edged inside – just the tip.

Naruto steadied himself – breathing normally, focusing his mind on the warmth of the soft lips pressed to his throat.

He felt it as it slid in further, slowly, gently, Sasuke’s touch so careful, so gentle – stretching impossibly far, but not that far…

Naruto’s breath hitched as the digit finally fit all the way in, and Sasuke’s other hand smoothed against his back, lifting into his hair, fingers stroking gently at his scalp, soothing.

A second digit, the two fingers slowly edging inside of him – and Naruto moaned a little shifting at the uncomfortable intrusion. Sasuke’s mouth covered his own, bruising it dark red, hot tongue against his own to distract the blond from the pain.

But it wasn’t so bad… not this time… it was Sasuke; Sasuke never let it hurt. Naruto’s mouth moved against Sasuke as the two fingers reached in completely - he hardly felt it. The strange feeling of thickness buried in him – not too thick yet.

A third finger and Naruto broke off the kiss on his own, mouth falling to Sasuke’s shoulder, hands gripping his arm slightly as he felt his backside stretch farther – it wasn’t that far, but it felt like too much already.

Three fingers edging in bit by bit – but Sasuke’s skin pulled against him, his hand still stroking in his hair and Naruto breathed deep and slow – little by little the three fingers slid inside.

His body pulled taut involuntarily as the digits reached their limit. Naruto’s member throbbed and he rocked his hips lightly against Sasuke with a hiss feeling the wet shaft slide against his own – Sasuke’s startled breath refusing to rock back to him.

Then the fingers were removed and Naruto’s backside twitched, he felt the muscles loose and clamp – the pain had been so much less somehow, had it really hurt so much before?

“Ready?”

That was all?

“Yeah.” Naruto breathed, and lifted himself, as Sasuke shifted under him – that hot pulsing shaft beating against his entrance.

Naruto started as the tip pushed past the entrance and he moaned slightly as he felt the length slide into him filling him up impossibly full, impossibly deep, and his insides clamped around Sasuke – he heard him gasp and pant, fighting to keep still.

Blue eyes took in that pale face flush with exertion and arousal, dark eyes glazed with passion the muscle of his throat standing out, sinew and ligaments taut and ready, lips swollen red against pale flushed skin.

He was too beautiful really… the blond acknowledged with some sheepishness. His throat moved in a beautiful bobbing motion when he swallowed, lips parted for breath, and onyx eyes stared back at him from beneath raven tresses.

Naruto breathed and shifted his inner walls loosing and clamping tightly around the intruder, Sasuke hissed again and his hips twitched in response. “Are you?”

The blond lifted himself then, feeling the length slip out until the tip was just inside him and he allowed himself to drive back down – he yelped out as the pulsing shaft stabbed back inside him, it hit something somewhere, but not enough. Where was it?

Naruto lifted again, falling back down on his partner’s shaft in rough quick succession, angling himself to get close to that spot that promised so much more feeling…

While Sasuke panted and groaned on every up and down as Naruto’s walls stroked him fast and hard – and the blond could only stare in awe at that expression.

His head thrown back, dark hair wild and untamed, eyes bright and dazed and clouded though lucid. That pretty mouth eliciting choked sounds that drove him forward.

His angel, pale alabaster skin, raven-black hair, that stuck to his neck and cheeks, lips swollen red, even as he devoured them again, lips catching to lips – pressing hard on softness, wetting the skin, and breathing in winter and spice.

His angel, his body long and lean, powerful and pulsing inside him – a yet foreign feeling capable of driving his mind past the tight winding gears of this instance.

Naruto pushed himself up with his arms too as his legs started to shake with repetition – his backside starting to go slightly numb even with the hot brand throbbing within him.

Sasuke’s hands found his hips again, and falling backward again, the blond’s back found soft downy sheets as Sasuke’s body moved over him – hips thrusting deep inside him, and Naruto moaned as the warm shaft impaled him – so much deeper.

Then pulled out and thrust back in and Naruto cried out again, as Sasuke’s body angled just right – and his eyes exploded to white stars shot high upward.

It was already so tight, and then Sasuke’s warm hand covered his own twitching shaft, and he moaned loudly, arms winding tight around the other’s back.

Thin insistent fingers dragging up and down on his shaft in time to that pulsing heat slamming in and out of him – striking him so that his mind reduced to burning ash – the whispered name of his beloved on his lips.

He couldn’t take it anymore, impaled, hot pulsing inside him, dripping wet, and that hand pushing along his length, smearing white and wet across the skin, that warm body above him – and he felt the screw wind tighter still – tighter and tighter and then it broke.

He cried out and there was nothing but unenduring bliss eternal and brief an instant and eternity all found in one as the screw came unwound and his throbbing need pulsed a few last times.

Thick strands of hot liquid shot over his chest, his lover’s hand still stroking the last of the spasms, even as his own shaft released within the blond.

Inner walls that clamped down hard and fast and forced the last of his pulsing to a stop – milking thick threads inside him, and Sasuke thrust back in to the hilt, pressed tight, emptying into him.

Naruto felt the hot liquid filling him up and his mouth found itself attached to Sasuke’s shoulder again, tongue pressed tight to the skin – tasting him, wishing he could impossibly take more into him.

Sasuke’s ragged breath began to cool and Naruto felt his own heart begin to slow from it’s frantic beating.

He still felt so hot, so impossibly warm and satisfied – and he could still feel the burning liquid on his inner walls, and Sasuke’s hardness pulsing the last inside him before the shaft finally gave what it had and he had to take it back out.

There was a sense of loss when his lover no longer filled him up, and he squirmed slightly at the uncomfortable feel of Sasuke’s seed seeping out of him, his muscles contracting on their own to swallow it back in.

Sasuke collapsed beside him, breathing slowly becoming steady, his arms remained wrapped tightly around the blond, holding him close, lips brushing lightly against the nearest skin he could reach – an affectionate gesture and Naruto turned toward him.

Their bodies lying side by side, comfortable and content with each other. It felt good, he had to admit, and Naruto smiled to himself nuzzling closer to Sasuke. “Love you.”

Sasuke’s mouth grinned against his skin, “Love you too.” Another kiss pressed to Naruto’s skin, a contented sigh. “How did I ever get so lucky…”

The blond grinned, “Because you’re a good person.”

“And you too?” the other mused.

“It was coming to you.” Naruto breathed, “Since this is who you are –”

“ – and all things come back to you.”

Soft snort, “and I love you.”

I love you. I love you.

---

The End.
Thank you for reading.

Old Comments (to everyone who reviewed the last time this was posted):
Thank you for everyone’s amazing amount of support thus far, you’ve all been so wonderful for staying with me this long! I appreciate you all so much; I love you!
Thank you!!