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 Twenty ~
By: Cecilia Tsukineko and Kirei Kitsue

"Told you we'd continue," Naruto purred as he crawled up Sasuke's sweaty body, licking cum from his wickedly smirking lips. He lightly nuzzled noses with him, caressing Sasuke's cheek with his knuckles.

Getting Mika and Arashi home from the party had been a lot easier than Sasuke'd thought, the only problem they'd had to deal with being Hannah. She'd returned from going home to change just as they were leaving and they'd somehow managed to ditch her while carrying the tipsy adults. Once home Naruto'd taken Mika to her room while Sasuke dealt with Arashi. Both adults were dead asleep the instant their heads hit the pillow.

Panting but incredibly pleased with the way things had turned out that evening, Sasuke nodded by tilting his head into Naruto's palm and nuzzling it. "You did..." he murmured. Sasuke's arms came up around Naruto's shoulders then and pulled him down on top of Sasuke's body, using him as a blanket. The sweat cooling on his skin was making him chill. He shivered a little, but didn't complain as his tongue caressed the inside of Naruto's wrist.

Naruto smiled and pulled the blanket over them so that his lover wouldn't get too cold, settling on top of Sasuke with a happy sigh. "Tomorrow's Christmas..." he murmured happily, burrowing his face into Sasuke's neck. Christmas with his father and with Sasuke. He couldn't ask for a better present.

"I know," he murmured back, his deep voice deeper with sleepiness. "And I've got something special for you..."

"You do? What is it?" Naruto lifted his head and looked down at Sasuke curiously.

"You have to wait until tomorrow." Sasuke smirked up at Naruto, looking satiated and lazy, but mischievous at the same time.

Naruto looked at the clock then back at Sasuke. "But it is tomorrow. It's past midnight. Please, Sasuke?" He pouted.

Sasuke shook his head. "Nope."

"Pleeeeeeeeeeease?" Naruto turned on the puppy-eyes in hopes that he'd get his present early.

"No, Naruto. Wait until morning..." Sasuke said and caressed his cheek.

Naruto made a face at him and set his head back down on Sasuke's shoulder. "Jackass."

There was no answer from Sasuke. He simply rolled them over so that they were both on their sides facing each other. He was ready to go to sleep after the "excitement" of the day.

Sighing in defeat, Naruto cuddled close and dropped a loving kiss on Sasuke's neck. "Night, beautiful."

"Night," Sasuke murmured and cuddled up for sleep.

-----------The next morning------------
Sasuke slowly woke up and smiled softly as he opened his eyes to gaze directly into Naruto's sleeping face. He looked so sweet slumbering contentedly beside Sasuke like that. Sasuke lightly brushed his fingers over one warm cheek. Smiling, he twisted and reached behind him and into the top drawer of Naruto's nightstand. Quietly he fished through the clutter and found exactly what he was looking for with ease. Pulling out the small black velvet box, he opened it and pulled out Naruto's Christmas present before dropping the box back into the drawer and softly closing it. Turning back to Naruto, Sasuke settled beside him again and watched him sleep for a few moments more. Angelic was a word that very nearly summed up Naruto's expression at that moment as Sasuke reached for his lover's left hand and slid Naruto's present onto his ring finger. Then he settled back down into the pillow and blanket, watching Naruto sleep intently, loving the peace and intimacy of the quiet moment.

It wasn't long before Naruto stirred and a deep sigh announced his return to the waking world. Yawning, he scrunched up his face in protest of the sun on his eyelids and turned away from it, trying to hide in Sasuke's shoulder. He muttered something that sounded like 'evil sun'.

Chuckling softly, Sasuke wrapped his arms around Naruto and affectionately kissed his crown. "Ohayo... Naruto..." he whispered warmly and rolled over until Naruto was beneath him, Sasuke conveniently blocking the sun. Straddling Naruto's waist, he caught Naruto's wrists and lifted them up above the blond's head before he laced both sets of fingers together, the warm pressure of the ring on Naruto's left hand pressing against Sasuke's pinky and ring finger. "Merry Christmas, itooshii..."

"Christmas!" Naruto was wide awake in an instant, his eyes snapping open. "Merry Christmas!" he chirped, smiling brightly up at Sasuke and leaning up to kiss him lovingly. He fell back down to the bed and started kicking his legs and wriggling, trying to get Sasuke off him. "Up! Presents! Tree! Upupupupupupupup!" He didn't even notice the ring on his finger in his eagerness to go downstairs.

Sasuke slowly lowered his head, ignoring Naruto's thrashing in favor of biting one of Naruto's earlobes and murmuring, "Yes, presents," into Naruto's ear as his right hand squeezed Naruto's left hand.

This time Naruto felt the strange pressure and he stopped wriggling. "Wait, hang on a sec," he said, pulling his ear away from Sasuke so that he could tug their hands down and see what was on his finger.

A gold ring winked at him in the morning sunlight. It looked like a plain class ring, only it didn't have any symbols on the sides and where the stone would have been there was the Uchiha Clan symbol done in ruby and diamond. The stones were flat rather then facetted, but they still shone with an internal fire. Naruto stared at the ring wide-eyed. "Sasuke... wow..." he whispered.

Sasuke smiled at the wide-eyed look on Naruto's face and caught Naruto's left hand, sitting up so that he was sitting on Naruto's stomach. Bringing it up to his lips, Sasuke kissed Naruto's knuckles. "Engraved on the inside of the band... is the date of the day that we met..." Sasuke murmured and kissed the back of Naruto's hand. "It's a promise..." he vowed, his eyes never leaving Naruto's face.

Grinning, Naruto sat up, making it so that Sasuke had to sit on his thighs, and hugged Sasuke tightly. "Thank you," he murmured before kissing Sasuke deeply, pouring every ounce of his love and happiness into the kiss.

Sasuke's arms settled about Naruto's neck and he hugged him tightly, returning the kiss with equal passion. When they finally broke the kiss, Sasuke whispered, "Merry Christmas... I love you."

"I love you too... forever." Naruto kissed him once more before letting him go and leaning down to reach under the bed. It was quite a stretch with Sasuke sitting on his legs, but Naruto just managed to grab hold of the small present he'd hidden under the bed. "Merry Christmas, Sasuke!" Naruto said brightly as he gave him the small wrapped box.

"You didn't have to get me anything, Naruto. I said I wanted you... remember?" Sasuke softly stated and kissed his lover once on the lips before turning to the package, opening it with precision and a small smile. Carefully he lifted the lid off of the box and peered inside, his smile getting a little brighter as he lifted out first a perfect rose dipped in real gold, followed by a pewter frame of twigs and leaves woven together, in which nestled a picture of he and Naruto at the Renaissance Faire just after they'd actually gotten together.

In the picture Sasuke was standing over the Washing Wench Well, his arms spread wide as he'd just dropped Naruto into the well despite the expensive Renaissance outfit he'd bought the blond a weekend previous. The picture had been snapped at just the right angle and the perfect moment when Naruto was just hitting the water, his limbs flailing, the spray coming up about him though he had not yet sunk. Daphne and Winnie were in the background dying of laughter and Sasuke himself was smirking wickedly. Naruto's face was priceless.

Looking up, Sasuke reached forward and wrapped his arms around Naruto's neck. "Thank you," he murmured, his pleasure evident in his voice. Any moment with Naruto was a moment he'd cherish for the rest of his life. This one happened to be a favorite and now it was captured forever.

"You're welcome," Naruto murmured as he hugged him back. "I have lots more pictures from that weekend, but that was the best one. Though I was really tempted to put a picture of you with the bra on your head in the frame," he teased, nuzzling Sasuke's cheek. "You're lucky it had fallen off right before that one was taken."

"Yeah," Sasuke agreed and nuzzled Naruto's shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered and tightened his hold on Naruto's body.

"For what? For not putting in a picture of you with a bra on your head or not giving a copy of said photo to Baa-chan? Yet..." Naruto added with a teasing grin.

"For my Christmas present," Sasuke said and leaned away from Naruto to give him a look. "I suppose if I'm part of the family now I'm not exempt from having embarrassing photos put in the photo albums, am I?"

"Nope!"

Sighing, Sasuke kissed him softly and then murmured, "Let's get dressed and go downstairs. Arashi and Mika will be waiting for us. And if they aren't..." He smirked wickedly, waiting for Naruto to finish his statement for him.

Naruto grinned mischievously. "Oh, I know Baa-chan's not up yet. Every year I wake her up banging a pan with a spoon and then run as she throws things at me, complaining about her hangover and telling me to shut up. It's really funny. If Dad's not awake, he's getting the same treatment."

Nodding, Sasuke got off Naruto's lap and went to the dresser, getting dressed quickly. When Naruto was dressed as well, they headed down the stairs only to find Arashi already awake and quietly drinking orange juice in the kitchen.

"Ready to wake her up?" Arashi asked the boys as they entered the kitchen, smirking when Sasuke looked to Naruto.

A huge wicked grin on his face, Naruto headed for the cupboard, grabbing a pot and a wooden spoon. "Would you like the honor this year?" he asked, handing the noisemakers to his father.

"You bet I would. Ready to dodge?" Arashi asked as the three of them headed to the master bedroom. Sasuke was quiet, but his black eyes were bright with enthusiasm.

Naruto nodded and waited for the inevitable explosion.

Arashi pushed the door open just enough to get his hands with the pot and wooden spoon in and then the ruckus began. He banged as loud and as much as he possibly could, calling, "TIME TO GET UP, MOM!!! IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!!"

Mika started and was instantly awake, clutching her aching head. "SHUT UP AND GET OUT!!!" she yelled, throwing everything she could get her hands on at the three laughing men. Well, two laughing and one smirking. Once they were gone she fell back onto her bed with a groan. "Ow... headache..."

Laughing breathlessly, Naruto shut her door to stop the onslaught and slid to the floor, holding his stomach. That was so much fun! ...He'd take pity on her later and bring her crackers and an aspirin.

Arashi laughed until he couldn't breathe and then laughed some more. When the tears stopped streaming down his face and his cheeks had regained their normal color, Arashi lay sprawled on the hallway floor, looking at the other two boys. Sasuke leaned casually against the wall, looking at him and Naruto with a smirk that told them he was dying of laughter on the inside. Naruto was in much the same state as Arashi himself. "It serves her right really... for getting that drunk..." Arashi managed to say at last.

"Every year she says she'll never do it again. And every year she does," Naruto wheezed, wiping his eyes dry. Slowly he sat up and leaned backwards on his hands. "Ow... laughed too hard... Food? We can try to get her up for presents when we're done eating."

"Yeah sure," Arashi said and groaned as he got to his feet. He made the three of them breakfast and they sat down to eat. They were all lounging about, giving Mika just that much more time to get herself together, when Sasuke asked Arashi a rather troublesome question.

"If you were every bit as drunk as Mika was – and we know you were – how come you're so... not hungover?"

Arashi paused in sipping his orange juice and slowly lowered the glass. He couldn't tell the boys the truth, so he opted for playing dumb. "I guess I just take my alcohol better than her..."

Naruto just shrugged and kept eating, accepting that answer without question. It wasn't unheard of for someone to be hangover-immune, and Arashi and Mika hadn't been overly drunk the night before. Just a little tipsy. "These are great pancakes, Dad," he said around a mouthful.

"Glad you like them," Arashi murmured and sipped at his orange juice again, staring out the kitchen window over the sink. He was feeling incredibly nostalgic.

Sasuke fell silent and turned his attention to finishing off his glass of fruit punch.

Finished with his breakfast, Naruto stood up to put his dishes in the sink. On the way back to his seat he wrapped his arms around Arashi's neck from behind and leaned down as if to kiss him on the cheek... only to blow a big, messy raspberry instead.

Arashi grimaced and glared at Sasuke. "Can't you keep him on a shorter leash?"

Sasuke smirked and scooted his chair back, patting his knee for Naruto to come sit on his lap. "No... I like mine a little wild."

Naruto cheerfully razzed Sasuke and let Arashi go, but he didn't sit in Sasuke's lap. Instead he put some saltines on a plate along with aspirin and grabbed a glass of water. "Be right back. Have to take care of the invalid," he said, kissing Sasuke's crown as he passed him. "I'll show you wild later," he purred just for his lover's ears before heading up the stairs.

Sasuke and Arashi talked about the little things until Naruto returned from Mika's room. Then Arashi asked if Mika would be coming out any time soon. Sasuke looked intently to Naruto to garner the answer, his mind still wandering on what Naruto could have possibly been implying... wild... Oh, the images that brought to mind.

"She'll be down as soon as the aspirin kicks in, which'll be about a half hour. And she gave us the go-ahead to open presents without her." This time Naruto sat down on Sasuke's lap, leaning back against his chest comfortably. "Open presents or wait?"

"It's my first Christmas back... I was hoping to have the whole family around for the important stuff..." Arashi answered absently, his mind obviously multitasking.

Sasuke's arms settled about Naruto's waist and he comfortably rested his chin on Naruto's shoulder. Life was so wonderful right then, despite the vile things going on around him, in his clan.

"Okay, we'll wait then." Naruto could wait to open presents. After all, he had the most important ones right there in the kitchen with him. Smiling in quiet contentment, he took hold of Sasuke's left arm and began gently massaging it. The muscles were quickly regaining their previous strength, though the forearm itself was still lily-pale. Softly Naruto hummed Christmas carols.

Sasuke purred and kissed the side of Naruto's neck, loving how kind his love could be to him. The massage on his arm was always a welcome thing. He glanced up to find Arashi still lost in some far away place in his head but said nothing, leaving him to his thoughts in favor of nuzzling Naruto's neck.

Exactly half an hour later Mika came down the stairs, feeling a little more human now that the aspirin had kicked in, and was a little surprised to find everyone in the kitchen. "I thought I said you could start without me," she said, ruffing the boys' hair and smirking as Naruto pouted at the abuse.

Arashi slowly turned from the window to Mika, his pupils shrinking from their lost-in-thought look. "We wanted to wait. It's my first Christmas home in sixteen years..."

Smiling, Mika kissed the top of his head, understanding completely. "Alright. So now that we're all here, to the tree!"

"Yes!!" Naruto jumped out of Sasuke's lap and shot towards the living room, landing on his knees in front of the tree. He quickly sorted the presents into piles, tossing one package to Mika as she sat down in her armchair. She caught it easily.

Arashi caught the present lobbed at him but moved over to the tree and picked up a box, handing it to Naruto. "Open this," he suggested and sat down.

Settling on the floor next to Naruto, Sasuke quietly leaned back against the couch.

Beneath the packaging was an elegant black and gold shrine box with two doors in front that latched closed and four curved legs to sit on. It was what was within the Chinese box that Arashi wanted to see Naruto's reaction of.

"Wow," Naruto said softly, admiring the little lacquer-box shrine. On the sides and back were bonsai trees, while the doors had green dragons on them. Much too heavy to be empty, Naruto set the box down on its legs and opened it... to reveal a statuette of a sitting nine-tailed fox. Naruto almost felt his heart stop before picking up again at a faster pace, almost in... fear? ::I... Where have I seen something like this before?:: Slowly his hands reached out to pull the little statue out of the shrine, staring at its Chinese style face and its nine tails, spread out behind it like a sunburst. There was a word on the tip of his tongue, trying to come out, but he didn't know what it was.

"Kyuubi no kitsune," Sasuke remarked, his voice a little low in surprise. He leaned over Naruto's shoulder, wrapping his arms around Naruto's waist and resting his chin on Naruto's shoulder.

"Exactly, Sasuke. I'm surprised that you know that..." Arashi commented, his eyes narrowing just a little. "What do you think?" he asked Naruto, turning his careful scrutiny back to his son.

"It's beautiful... and scary too..." Naruto muttered absentmindedly. Slowly he put the fox back in the shrine and closed the doors, not noticing that his hands shook slightly. "I'll be right back," he muttered, standing up and heading for the bathroom to splash water on his face.

Mika waited until he was out of earshot before saying softly, "Not long after you disappeared, Arashi, he started having awful nightmares about a giant fox. He always called it a dog but when he mentioned the fact that it had many tails I reasoned that he had to be talking about a fox. He would wake me up with his screams... The nightmares only lasted about a year and I know he doesn't remember them, but..." She looked meaningfully at the shrine. "It is a beautiful gift, dear, but..."

"I know, Mom... I know," Arashi murmured and stood up, following Naruto and taking the shrine with him. "Stay here and finish opening presents. We'll be back out in a bit," he said absently over his shoulder and headed up the stairs, hearing the water up there.

Sasuke's eyes followed after Arashi like they had followed after Naruto. Worriedly. He looked to Mika and then sighed, reaching for the next present with his name on it. There was no point in following them.

Arashi was waiting outside the bathroom door when Naruto came out. He tilted his head towards Naruto's bedroom meaningfully. "We need to talk, kiddo..." he said softly. This wasn't something that could wait and he knew that he wouldn't get another opportunity like this to talk to Naruto about this.

Naruto shook his head. "I'm okay," he said stubbornly, not really wanting to discuss his sudden and irrational fear. ::Why did that little thing scare me so much? It's just a statue...::

"No, we need to talk, Naruto... Now." Arashi pointed to the bedroom door, tucking the heavy statue in its shrine close to his body.

Recognizing the note in Arashi's tone that told of no room for argument - something he heard in Mika's voice many times - Naruto deflated a bit and entered his room, sitting cross-legged on his bed and refusing to look at Arashi or the shrine. And his Christmas had started out so wonderful too...

Arashi shut and locked the door, holding the shrine under his arm he twisted his hands a few times and then turned to face Naruto, satisfied that they wouldn't be disturbed. He moved over and set the shrine with the fox right on the nightstand next to the lamp and reached into it, taking out the fox. "I want you to talk to me, Naruto. I'm not going to tell you what to say by asking you questions other than this. Why did your face get pale and your hands start to shake when you saw this?" He held up the statue and examined it himself.

"I don't know..." Naruto said quietly, his eyes averted.

"I think that you're just trying not to think about it..." Arashi said softly. He was being the patient leader he'd always been, gently trying to coax information from Naruto. "Mom says you had nightmares about a nine-tailed 'dog' after I... disappeared. Did that fox ever talk to you?" He could see that he wasn't going to get information if he didn't ask some questions.

"I... don't remember. I didn't even remember the nightmares at all until I saw that thing," Naruto murmured, pulling his knees up to hug them. "It's all really fuzzy... All I remember is being terrified."

Carefully Arashi reached out and pulled Naruto to him as he settled on the edge of the bed. "I want you to try and remember... I want to know if that fox ever said anything to you. Can you at least try for me?" He really hated doing this to his son on Christmas day, but when else could he have done it? He needed Naruto's guard to be at its lowest for the first blow - seeing the statue - and now he had to hammer at that chink in the light armor around Naruto to make sure it would hold, or fix it if it wouldn't... or prepare for the worst if he had to. ::I'm wondering if you can sense me...:: he thought, though it wasn't something directed at Naruto.

Naruto tried and immediately shied away at the memories as a very vivid one of the fox devouring him leapt to the forefront of his mind, causing him to start. "It ate me once..." he said slowly, carefully diving into the hazy memories only because his father had asked him to. "It destroyed towns a lot... I can't remember if it ever said anything..."

"It never spoke directly to you? Called your name?" ::Devouring... I don't like the sound of that,:: he thought, classifying the symbolism of Naruto's statement. ::Destruction... Are you as powerful as ever? Or are you just a remnant trying to keep afloat on the lake of time?::

The younger blond shook his head. "No..." He thought for a moment before adding, "Actually, all those nightmares felt almost like... memories... They were always a little faded, kinda like watching an old movie, but they were still horrible."

Arashi put Naruto a little away from him and gently took his chin in one calloused yet still soft hand. Carefully he scrutinized Naruto's eyes and took in the very incredibly faint whiskers on Naruto's cheeks and then sighed. "Can I see the birthmark on your stomach, please?"

::Why does he want to see that?:: Nodding, Naruto folded his legs again and lifted his pj shirt. Around his belly button was a very faint spiral-like birthmark, so faint it could only be seen when the light hit it at a certain angle. Naruto often forgot it was there.

Arashi gently pushed Naruto to his back and stood, leaning over him to examine it carefully. His fingers traced the lines and marks, checking for breaks in the pattern, but he found none. Sighing, he straightened. ::If you are in there... I know you know that I am here. I took you out once before... and while I've only stored up chakra spiritually and now physically over the years that I spent alone, reconditioning my mind and body, you've only weakened. Remember that,:: he thought at the marking on Naruto's stomach and straightened. "Sorry, Naruto. Come here and give me a hug and then you can go back to Sasuke downstairs," Arashi apologized and held open his arms after stepping back from the bed.

Naruto stood and hugged him, a little confused about the whole thing. "Why did you want to see my birthmark?" he asked curiously. He couldn't see how it tied in with the nightmares he'd had as a toddler.

"Don't worry about it. I just wanted see if it was still there," Arashi answered and hugged Naruto tightly. "Naruto, don't be afraid of that statue. It was a present from me. And remember that you have me and Sasuke both to protect you, understand?" he stated firmly. How he wanted to have been able to say that then... but he hadn't been and so he was trying to say it now. Not that Naruto knew that.

Naruto didn't understand completely, but he nodded anyway. His spirits lifted by Arashi's words, Naruto gave his father a squeeze before letting go. "Let's go back down," he said.

"Yeah.... They're probably wondering what's going on," Arashi agreed and made sure to beat Naruto to the door. "Kai," he whispered softly - so softly it was almost inaudible - as he put his hand on the knob and pulled the door open. Together they walked down the stairs, leaving the kyuubi statue closed up in its little shrine on Naruto's nightstand.

Sasuke looked up and smirked at them when they returned, relieved to see that neither was upset or had been upset enough for it to show.

"Hey," Naruto greeted, sitting behind Sasuke and wrapping his arms around Sasuke's upper arms, resting his head on Sasuke's shoulder. "Whatcha get?" he asked curiously.

Mika looked questioningly at Arashi, hoping for an explanation.

'Later,' Arashi mouthed to her and settled in the recliner. He smiled as he watched the boys go over their presents, what Sasuke got and what Naruto was now opening. It was mid-afternoon by the time they decided to make lunch and then they spent the rest of the day playing board games. It wasn't until late that night, after dinner, that there was time for questioning.

---

Sasuke lay there in bed with Naruto in his arms for a long while before he decided to speak. He wasn't even sure if Naruto was still awake, but he was still a little worried about what had transpired that morning. "Naruto?"

"Mm?" Naruto hummed sleepily, shifting a bit to cuddle closer.

"What was that all about earlier today... with your dad and you having to go upstairs and talk...?"

"Mmm... used to have nightmares 'bout a big fox... bad ones..." Naruto mumbled, mostly asleep. "Statue reminded me... Dad wanted to talk 'bout 'em..."

"Oh..." Sasuke said simply and curled up around Naruto. "Good night, koibitto."

"Night, love." Naruto yawned and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. As long as Sasuke was there, his dreams would always be good ones.

A content sigh passed Sasuke's lips and took with it his consciousness.

---

Down in the living room, Arashi sat on the couch staring into a glass of berry wine... waiting for Mika to come looking for him.

"So what did you talk to him about?" Mika asked Arashi as she sat in her armchair, a mug of spiced cider in her hand.

"His nightmares... The fox..." Arashi answered and looked at his mother a moment before he leaned back in his seat - he'd been leaning forward his arms braced on his knees - and now he sipped from his glass. "Mom... Do you... trust me?"

Mika raised an eyebrow at him over the rim of her mug. She swallowed and teasingly said, "Well, that's a stupid question." Meaning of course she did.

"'Kay... Cuz I've got something to tell you... and I'm not sure you're going to believe me..." Arashi said softly. He had to tell someone, had to say it aloud to prove that he could. To show to himself that it _was_ real and that he wasn't just crazy from having been alone for so long. He wanted to show his mother something of what he could do now... to make sure it wasn't his own mind playing evil tricks and only making him think he saw the results he wanted.

"So tell me anyway." She took another swallow of her cider. "You've told me some crazy things before and I have always believed you unless I could flat out tell you're lying."

"Crazy stuff before? This isn't crazy. It's wild... and hard to believe... but it's the truth... I swear it."

"Sometimes the hardest things to believe are the most solid of truths," Mika said, looking at him calmly. "What is it you want to tell me, Arashi? If you swear it to be the truth, then I will believe you."

"Okay..." He sighed once and then inhaled, taking the deepest breath he could to begin his story. First he told her about being separated from his battalion - a story she had already heard - but then he told her, "So... I could hear them coming and I knew that they had to be tracking me by sound. All the dishes on my survival pack and the clicking of my dogtags... it was all so loud in the quiet desert night... and then it just kept getting louder and louder and I was starting to panic. I could hear everything all around me... and then there was this sudden pain in my skull and the first thought in my head was that I had been shot. But then the pain was gone and everything was... different. I just... knew things. I just knew they were far enough behind me that I could stop and remove all of the stuff that was weighing me down and making me an obvious and trackable target. We're taught not to leave our gear behind in the military because it's what keeps you living, but I knew I could just live off of my K-bar and foraging. Mom, I took out a small fist of enemy soldiers... alone... with only my K-bar. I went to sleep that night and when I woke up in the morning, I was even more different then before... because I had double memories." He paused and watched her to see if she was following him. He wasn't sure even he was following his own story.

"Double memories? As in having a past life?" Mika asked, intrigued. This was definitely the craziest story Arashi had ever told her, but some deep instinct told her that every word coming out of his mouth was true. And Mika was a woman that trusted her instincts without fail.

Feeling a small amount of relief wash over him, Arashi nodded. "Yes. But you're not going to believe this. I used to be a ninja. Not just any ninja but The Ninja... in a village that no longer exists."

"_The_ ninja?" Mika raised an eyebrow at that and smirked a bit in amusement. "_A_ ninja, okay, but _the_ ninja?" She wasn't bothered by the "in a village that no longer exists" part.

"I was the top ninja in the village. I was... Eh-heh." He rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "I feel awkward talking about it like this... but I was called Yondaime Hokage... The Great Fourth Hokage. I was the leader of an entire ninja village." Arashi shrugged. "Anyway, I was the leader until... until the Kyuubi no Kitsune, a demon, attacked my village... and then I ended up sealing the fox into an infant..." His eyes got distant as he trailed off, his eyes unfocused as he gazed vacantly into the wine glass he cradled between his hands. "And died doing it before I really hit my twenties..."

Mika was quiet for a long moment, taking that in. She wasn't quite sure if she _could_ believe that - it was just so bizarre to think of demons actually existing like that - but she took in Arashi's serious expression and thought about how it might connect to Naruto's nightmares... Some of the pieces fell into place. "Let me guess... that infant was Naruto," she said quietly. ::I guess it would make a some sense when you take into account what Naruto's told me about feeling like he's known Sasuke quite literally for eternity...::

"Yeah... he was my son then... like now, and I used him as a vessel for the fox when I sealed it up. I wanted him to be viewed as a hero. A savior of the village for bearing a burden like that... I don't know if they ever did. That birthmark on his stomach is the fox's seal and the faint whiskers on his cheeks a brand or badge... like I said, I don't know which it ended up being. Sasuke, surprisingly, belongs to a Clan that existed in that day. The Uchiha Clan was the most powerful clan in Konohagakure..." Arashi shook his head and brought himself back to the present, taking a sip of his wine.

"Hm. Then I guess it's true," Mika said thoughtfully, smiling down into her cider.

"What's true?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Naruto told me once that he feels like he's known Sasuke for longer than he really has. Much longer. Eternity, he said."

"Konohagakure existed in what is present day China. The geography has changed so much it isn't funny, but I found it. It's in ruins... but the walls are still there. Buried, but there. Naruto, probably Sasuke too, lived there. In fact, so did Sasuke's boss, Kakashi... Actually, Kakashi was one of my Genin students while I was a Jounin. It was so... great to see him all grown up... even if he doesn't remember me. It makes me wonder how he turned out back then..." Arashi smiled a little, thoughtfully. "But yeah... it's entirely possible that Naruto and Sasuke knew each other back then."

Mika blinked at the words "genin" and "jounin", not understanding them. "Some of that went right over my head... but yeah, they might have." She yawned hugely. "Oh, goodness, excuse me. It's been a long day... I think I'll go to bed." She drank the rest of her cider and stood up, walking over to Arashi to kiss his cheek. "Go to bed soon, baby. Good night."

"Mmm," he acknowledged and kissed her cheek back. "Night, Mom, and... thanks."

"Anytime, Arashi. I love you." After giving him one more smile she headed up to bed.

Arashi sat quietly in the living room, thinking carefully and picking through his memories. Jiraiya was a figure in his life that he actually missed. Kakashi had been a precious student to him, Obito and Rin as well. His only Genin team before he'd had to give up his life for the country. He'd never regret that decision. Never... but he wished he'd been able to see Kakashi grow into a man, a ninja, and see what his skills had developed to. He wished wholeheartedly that he could have been there for Naruto, could only hope that Sarutobi-sama had taken good care of him. And in this lifetime... very little was different when it came right down to the wire. He still hadn't been able to raise Naruto. But still, he reasoned as he stood and headed to his basement bedroom and sleep, he was getting more of a chance this time around than the first.

Sleep wasn't long in coming and his dreams were of pleasant memories of his own Genin experiences and his experiences as a teaching Jounin.

-------------The Next Morning-----------------
Sasuke put the last of their bags in the trunk and shut it firmly before heading to the driver's side of the Chevelle and sliding in. He had already said his goodbyes to Mika and Arashi, so now he was waiting for Naruto who was in the house saying goodbye to Mika. Arashi was standing in the doorway to the house, waiting patiently for his turn to say goodbye.

Watching quietly as Mika hugged the breath out of his son, Arashi caught a glint out of the lowest range of his vision and smirked. ::Oh really...:: he thought.

"Don't forget to call," Mika ordered as she squeezed Naruto. "Take care of yourself. If you need to come home don't put it off for weeks, come straight home."

"Yes, Baa-chan," Naruto said hoarsely from not being able to breathe. "Air?" he asked hopefully.

Reluctantly, Mika let him go - she didn't want the boys to leave - only to hug him again. Groaning quietly, Naruto looked helplessly at Arashi. He both did and didn't want to leave, but the prospect of actually making a home with Sasuke won hands down.

"Mom... I'd like to hug my kid. And I'd like him to be solid and alive when I do," Arashi said, rolling his eyes.

This time Mika really let him go and Naruto tightly hugged his father, whispering, "Thank you."

Arashi hugged him tightly, though not nearly as hard as Mika. "You're welcome," he said softly and then loosened his grip, putting Naruto slightly away from him and onto the porch so Mika couldn't hear Arashi or see Naruto. "So... what's that on your finger? Christmas present from Sasuke?"

Smiling brightly Naruto nodded, a light blush on his cheeks. "He gave it to me right when we woke up yesterday."

"So what does it mean?" Arashi asked and he didn't mean the insignia the ring bore.

"It's a promise."

"A promise? I see..." Arashi smiled affectionately and hugged Naruto again, kissing his crown. "I'm happy for you. Be safe..." he whispered and released Naruto.

"Love you, Dad. Bye, Baa-chan! Love you!" A happy bounce in his step, Naruto went to the car and got in the passenger's side. "Drive. Before Baa-chan decides to squish me again," he joked to Sasuke.

Smirking, Sasuke waved one last time to the two adults on the porch and then turned his attention to the road behind him as he backed out of the driveway. It wasn't long before they were rolling down the highway on cruise, Sasuke steering comfortably by resting his left elbow on the window ledge of the door and his hand on the wheel. His right hand rested on his thigh, until he lifted it and turned the radio on. The CD in the player was a favorite, Gackt's Mars album.

"Evil," Naruto muttered affectionately with a smirk, his seat leaned back and his arms folded behind his head as a pillow. "Give me warning if you're gonna sing along."

"Then you've been warned," Sasuke said softly and listened to the opening of Asrun Dream before he began to sing along.

Naruto chuckled and listened, loving the sound of Sasuke's smooth voice.

---

"I was hoping they'd stay for all of break. I miss having kids in the house," Mika said sadly as she walked into the kitchen after watching the Chevelle drive away.

Arashi shrugged. "He's grown up now, Mom... he's got himself a life-partner and school to think about. He's not your little grandson any more," he said softly and then sighed. Stretching, he settled on his kitchen chair and leaned it back on two legs. "They probably want some quiet, alone time before school starts again."

Mika nodded and started washing dishes. "I know... So when are you going to give me more grandchildren? You're still young enough," she teased.

"If I find the right girl then maybe. But I'm single again so you know what that means... My chances of bringing a man home with me are about equal to my chances of bringing a pretty young woman," Arashi stated and stretched again, only differently.

"Allow me to hope for the pretty young woman," Mika teased. As she put a dish in the drying rack something on the fridge caught her eye. Curious, she dried her hands and grabbed what turned out to be a note from Naruto.

Hey –
Sasuke and I aren't going back to the dorm. We actually got an apartment at the end of the semester and moved all our stuff in the day we came to visit you two. We're going back to unpack and arrange everything. Relax, Baa-chan, I promise I won't drop any furniture on my feet. ^__^
Love you guys.
Naruto

Mika shook her head in bemusement and handed the note to Arashi. "That boy is definitely yours alright."

Reading over the note, Arashi chuckled. "He was smarter than me, though. I would have told you I was moving in with my boyfriend of only a few months to your face and gotten the explosion face to face." Arashi chuckled again and wondered if it had actually set in Mika's brain that her grandson was moving into an apartment with someone he'd only been dating for a handful of months at best.

"Three months... just three months..." She sighed and continued to wash dishes. "I still don't know whether I'm comfortable with how fast they're moving. They started sleeping together immediately, too... I just hope Naruto's isn't setting himself up for a fall. I like Sasuke, I really do, but..." She sighed again. "I guess I'm just being a paranoid old woman."

"If it's any consolation, Mom... Sasuke isn't going to hurt Naruto. As a matter of fact, Sasuke gave Naruto a promise ring for Christmas." Arashi's eyes never left Mika's back, waiting for and watching her reactions carefully.

Mika stopped, looked over her shoulder at him, and then burst out laughing.

A little surprised Arashi tipped his head. "What's so funny?"

When she could stop laughing enough to talk Mika said, "Think about it. Just looking at the two of them you'd think that Sasuke was the 'girl' in the relationship, but Sasuke gave a ring to Naruto, something the guy usually does for the girl..." She dissolved into giggles again.

Arashi was still confused. His mother was acting funny. "Well, at least their relationship is balanced..." That set her off even more.

Deciding it was hopeless, Arashi stood and moved over to kiss her cheek gently. "I'll be downstairs if you need me, silly woman..." he muttered and headed towards his bedroom.

TBC...

A K-bar is a kind of knife used in the military. When Rei-chan showed me a picture, to me it looked like a short machete. Sorry I can't give you guys a better description.