Irreplacable

Chapter 2:

The pale cream walls of the bedroom, the brown tiles of the floor and the light, float-y white curtains were designed to make this room a calm and quiet place to be in. But it did nothing for the two men in it. Sasuke was still unconscious.

Naruto was anything but calm as he watched the figure on the bed with a frown…his ex-best friend. For the first time he realised that the Sasuke he had known growing up and the Sasuke he had seen on TV or in the newspapers with his father countless number of times was gone. The raven had looked happy then...

Now Sasuke just looked tired and drawn. Naruto swallowed…he didn’t want to see those eyes again…Sasuke’s eyes had been so dead. Even the stoic-ness had gone out of them. He shook his head…he was supposed to hate Sasuke! He could remember how disgusted he’d felt when he’d come home after his honeymoon to find that Sasuke and his father were lovers. He’d stormed out of the house yelling about he’d hated them both and never come back. He hadn’t answered their calls or come out to meet them when they’d visited.

Naruto sighed, he’d always assumed that there would be enough time to make up, but there hadn’t been any. He wondered if Hinata would be coming. After their divorce, they’d hardly met even though she kept in touch by sending him letters telling him about their son Miyagi. She was going to be marrying Kiba, her best friend. Naruto had no qualms; he knew Kiba would be a good father to Miyagi. A maid came in carrying a jug of water and a glass.

“Uzumaki-san,” she faltered a bit on the name, blinking back tears. “Could you please tell Uchiha-san, that the man from the morgue was here? Your father’s lawyer was here too. They said they would return after an hour or so.” She bowed and shot a worried glance at Sasuke. “I hope he gets better. The last week has been hell.”

Naruto nodded. “Thank you. I’ll tend to him when he wakes up.”

She gave him a dubious glance and then left. Sometimes it seemed like the house staff hated him. Naruto knew he deserved that. He turned back to Sasuke’s bed. Subconsciously he wished that Sasuke would move or make a noise. Something that would make the man look less dead…Naruto didn’t know what it would be like to lose Sasuke as well. But you all ready lost him…you lost them both when you left five years back. Naruto bit his lip. He was perfectly justified. Anyone would be angry and mad if they got back from their honey moon to find that their best friend had shacked up with their dad!

He looked down again as Sasuke stirred. His eyelids moved a bit, before the dark eyes opened slowly. Sasuke could smell Arashi on their bed…he buried his nose in he pillow for a few seconds, before turning to face Naruto. He watched the blond for a moment confused before recognition seeped in.

Sasuke felt bone tired, but pulled himself into a sitting position nonetheless. “Naruto-san.” His voice was as blank as his eyes. “I’m sorry about this. I haven’t been feeling too well.”

The blond nodded, his face just as stoic as Sasuke’s. “Care to tell me what happened? I’m sorry that I couldn’t make it to the hospital. I was in Suna and caught the first plane back.”

“I know. He…” Sasuke steeled himself mentally, he could talk about this. He wouldn’t break down. “He died in a car crash day before yesterday night. He was on his way to work and some drunk driver skipped the green light and rammed into him…it was at Konoha Bridge…” Sasuke clutched the sheets. “The car skidded off the road and hit the rails before rolling down. It stopped at the bank. His skull had cracked…”

Naruto wished he hadn’t asked…Sasuke was going pale again. The older man bit his lip. “He also had multiple fractures, a few broken ribs, internal bleeding and blood loss. The doctor’s said it was a slim chance. I was with him when he came around…it was only for five minutes or less, I couldn’t tell.” Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. “He told me to tell you he loved you.”

Anyone who didn’t know the raven man would wonder at the apparent lack of emotions. But Naruto could spot every little sign and he could see how badly Sasuke wanted to cry. Haring about this, Naruto had no idea how to react. He knew it couldn’t hurt him as badly as it hurt Sasuke who’d been with his father for the past five years and at his deathbed. It hadn’t sunk in that his father was really gone…Naruto knew when it did it would hurt horribly.

Sasuke’s phone rang shrilly and Naruto looked at the caller id. It was Sasuke’s brother, Itachi. The Uchiha ignored it, staring into space for a moment or two.

“A man from the morgue and Dad’s lawyer were here. They will be returning in an hour or so.” Naruto wondered why his voice had come out like that…with no warmth or comfort.

“It’s a good thing you’re here then. Kakashi told me he wanted you, Hinata, Miyagi and me to be present when he read the will. Before you ask, I was not present when Arashi wrote the will so I don’t know or want anything.” Sasuke stretched a bit.

Naruto frowned, lips turning down. “What is with the defensive attitude? I’m not going to accuse you of trying to steal my father’s money!”

Sasuke got of the bed. “I just wanted to be sure that it was clear to you. It’s what most people would say about their father’s penniless lover.” He buttoned up the few buttons which had been undone to give him air. He looked up to see Naruto staring at the red purple love bite that lay just below his neck. Arashi had given it to him the morning of the day he’d died. Sasuke did up the last button nonchalantly.

“Penniless?” Naruto snorted. The Uchiha also came from a billionaire family like Naruto; the thought of Sasuke being penniless was laughable.

Sasuke straightened his clothes and raised an eyebrow. “Yes penniless. My family disowned me the moment they found out about Arashi.”

Naruto’s eyes widened in shock and for once he didn’t pay attention to how easily his father’s name rolled of Sasuke’s lips. “They did? The assholes!”

Sasuke shot him a passive, questioning look. “Why? You did too. It’s not such a big deal, Naruto-san. It’s not like I meant anything to anyone from the beginning. All that matters is Arashi cared and he made me happy. Now, I have to go. So why don’t you contact Hinata and Miyagi, so they can be here in the afternoon?”

Naruto watched as Sasuke walked out. He tried to will the feeling of guilt away. He had absolutely nothing to be sorry for! Sasuke had betrayed him and had been disgusting. It was perfectly all right for him to never want to face Sasuke again. If it was so perfectly fine, then why was he being eaten up by guilt?

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Naruto hung up after his call to Hinata. He sat down on the small red cushioned stool by the phone. He couldn’t believe his father had died just yesterday. He stood up to look at the pictures on the walls. Most of the old ones with him, Sasuke and Arashi were still there in the living room…he’d noticed when he came in. but here, in what seemed like Arashi and Sasuke’s private den, new pictures had been added.

The first one Naruto saw was off Sasuke laughing as he popped champagne…it had been the time Arashi had made a new merger. Then there was a sweet one of Arashi and Sasuke in what seemed to be a park, sitting side by side deep in conversation. It was softly they were looking at each other that made Naruto stare for a while longer. Another one was funny with Arashi overturning a bowl of ramen on Sasuke, who looked utterly pissed off. There were so many…most of them with his father and Sasuke looking so happy together.

When he came to the last one, Naruto whimpered softly. It was Arashi’s favorite picture…where Naruto, Sasuke and Arashi had gone camping they all stood together smiling happily. Dad…I’m sorry…I miss you…

Tears slid down his face softly and he felt his legs give way as he sank on to the couch behind him. He made no noise, just crying in private. I love you too…I’m so sorry…he had messed things up so badly between his father and himself. He hadn’t listened to anything they had to say and he’d insisted that Hinata didn’t keep in touch with them, though he knew she was sneaking off to visit them.

The pain was raw…he wished he could have been there in all those happy moments, when Arashi and Sasuke had spent their last few years. He bent down opting to bury his face in his knees as the sobs insisted on coming. And then there was a hand on his shoulder, which went onto to rub his back rather soothingly.

Naruto looked up to see sasuke, his face in its usual emotionless mask. They didn’t speak…they didn’t know what to say. Sasuke had fallen in love with Arashi…it wasn’t that he didn’t love Naruto, but those feelings had been put away and hidden very securely when Naruto had walked out of their lives. Arashi had given him everything he could ask for, the love, affection and kindness. Arashi had made him laugh. The least he could do was try to comfort Arashi’s son.

Naruto knew he should apologize to Sasuke, but he couldn’t do it. He still hated that they had been together, maybe a tiny part of him didn’t like feeling left out. Naruto wasn’t one to analyse his feelings and usually his emotions ran him. But this time with all the warring emotions, pain with anger at himself and coolness were foremost. He couldn’t feel sorry for anything when it came to Sasuke. Sasuke had stolen his dad.

Sasuke watched him for a moment before swallowing lightly and moving to inspect the pictures. He missed those times, when Arashi had unknowingly helped him see him and not Naruto. Sure it started out wrong, but it had straightened out after a while. it brought his mind back to their last conversation…the one that kept Sasuke awake at nights. Arashi’s last few words had hurt…he turned and walked out of the room. He couldn’t help but wonder how long he and Naruto would have to face each other…how long he’d have to face all this.

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Sasuke was talking to the cook about dinner, for Hinata, Naruto and Miyagi. Since they were coming to visit him, he had to make arrangements for their stay. After all Hinata had now moved to a place two hours drive away from Konoha and Naruto live on the other side of the city. By the time Kakashi got here it would be evening. It was already five pm.

“So just make something easy like macaroni and cheese or something…please don’t go through too much trouble, I’m sure the boy will like that, but you’ll know better…” Sasuke was saying.

“No, Uchiha-san. Macaroni and cheese sounds fine. It won’t be too much trouble. You better eat a healthy portion…you have lost a lot of weight!” The cook poked him with her finger.

At that moment, Hinata and Miyagi walked in followed by Naruto. Hinata gave him a warm smile. “H-hello Sasuke-kun. I’m so g-glad we’ve finally m-met...” she grasped his hand and shook it gently. “Y-you must b-be devastated… I- I’m sorry about what happened. I’ll miss A-Arashi-san too.” Unlike Naruto, Hinata had always strived to keep in touch and to bring Naruto around. One of the reasons Naruto divorced her, the other being that they ended up having so many fights.

Sasuke gave her a brief smile. “Thank you Hinata-chan. Congratulations on your engagement to Kiba. I’m sure you’ll be very happy.”

“I-I’m sure to! Miyagi, meet y-your godfather, Uchiha S-Sasuke.” He pushed the little blond four year old forward. The boy smiled and held out his hand, his blue eyes uncertain. He looked like another replica of Naruto except for Hinata's paleness which he’d inherited.

Sasuke smiled at the kid and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Miyagi.” The boy seemed to relax all at once.

“So what have you got for me?” the blue eyes stared expectantly at Sasuke.

“Got for you?” Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, you’ve got to get me a present because you’re my godfather! Godfather’s shower their god children with gifts…” Miyagi informed him, completely ignoring the shushing noise of his parents.

Naruto watched as Sasuke knelt down to face the kid. “Do they now? I wasn’t aware of the fact, so thank you for informing me. If you can wait till tomorrow morning, I’ll get you anything you want ok?” Miyagi howled wih glee.

Naruto frowned. Didn’t Sasuke say he had no money? How the hell was he going to afford it? “You don’t have to, Sasuke!”

“I want to, Naruto-san.”

“But you really shouldn’t indulge him like that, Sasuke!” Naruto’s voice rose a little in volume.

“If S-Sasuke says he w-wants to get M-Miyagi a present, then let him! L-Leave him be Naruto!” Hinata glared at the blond man.

“You don’t know…” Naruto began when Sasuke caught his shoulder.

“If you’ll excuse us Hinata-chan. I have to talk to Naruto for a minute.” He dragged Naruto into another room and frowned. “What is the problem Naruto-san?”

Naruto-san…the honorific irked him. Stupid Sasuke! Stupid, annoying Sasuke with his pride and his high and mighty ways! “You don’t have any money! Hat’s what the problem is!”

“I have a little stashed away. I sold a few stained glass paintings last month…I should have at least five hundred dollars, because I spent the rest on Arashi and my holiday trip.” Sasuke coolly informed him.

“F…five hundred dollars! Sasuke!”

“What? Just because I let my self get involved in my art when I was with your father does not me I don’t have any money of my own. And I don’t want your father’s money!” Sasuke glared. “I haven’t seen my godson at all! His is the first time we meet, I want to get something! Stay out of it!”

Sasuke went back to Hinata and Miyagi leaving Naruto alone in the room. Everyone was against him…he bit his lip, he deserved it in a way, but sometimes he wished Hinata hadn’t developed all that confidence!

Kakashi came in only at seven pm. He smiled at them all, unaware at the tension between them. He ushered them into a room and opened the will.

“Arashi’s total fortune consisted of 5000 billion dollars in the Mizugakure Bank and Konoha International Bank, his five companies Uzumaki Corporation worth 50 billion, Rasengan Steel Plant worth 40 billion, Uzumaki-Sannin Publications worth 20 billion, Storm Cloud Printers worth 50 million and Uzuphone Ltd worth 28 billion, his house worth 2 million and his penthouse worth 1 million.”

There was a look of dumbfounded amazement on their faces. None of them had known Arashi was that rich! Kakashi just smiled. “this is the division. Storm cloud Printers has been left to his grandson Uzumaki Miyagi when he turns twenty five. He left Uzumaki Corp, Uzumaki-Sannin Publications and his penthouse to his son Uzumaki Naruto. Rasengan Steel Plant, Uzuphone Ltd and the house are left to his lover Uchiha Sasuke. The remaining fortune is to be equally divided among them.”

Kakashi paused for a bit of a dramatic effect. Sasuke stood in that pause. “I don’t want it.”

Kakashi shook his head. “It says here, that the money and the deeds be forcefully given to you in case of un-acceptance. Once their yours, you can sell them all or give them away. And I am not done yet Uchiha-san.”

Sasuke stared at him with a death glare before sitting down. “Go on.”

“In the case of your deaths, the money goes to charity and the companies to whichever of you is alive…otherwise to Miyagi. He had left a letter for Naruto incase of any unfortunate event like this.” Kakashi handed the letter over. “And if you don’t mind…I would like to inform you of his last wish after dinner…I am really hungry you see.”

Sasuke sighed. “Just tell us!”

“Dinner, first please Uchiha-san. It is 8 pm.”

Sasuke gestured for them all to join him at the dinning table. The cook had set it for them. Miyagi scrambled up and yelled a loud ‘Itadakimasu’ before proceeding to inhale the pasta. Kakashi said nothing just observed the quiet tension in the air until dinner was over. Then he patted his stomach and grinned.

“Now…Uzumaki Arashi’s final wish. Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke must here forth, live together in any one of his houses. In case they fail to do so, all his companies will directly become the property of his hated rival Sannin Orochimaru.”

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A/N:

Taka: I feel quiet brilliant. I pondered over this chapter day and night. And about Arashi knowing…you’ll find out how later!

Itachi: pondered? You read Uchihacest and Ita Naru stories all day!! And you say you love me!! (All this said with stoic face of course)

Taka: that’s because I love the stories you star in Itachi!! They’re awesome and they get my mind off how sexy Naruto and Sasuke are together….sometimes it makes me want to join them!

Itachi: Mine! (Grabs Taka and repeats mine a hundred times over…)

Taka: (shrugs him off and turn to more precious reviewers.) Please review!! I have to work on DWL epilogue, so the next chap will take a while!

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