The Chemicals Between Us

A/N: Dom-Shikaku is love


The Chemicals Between Us


It was another week before Sasuke was allowed to work again. And even then it was from Shikaku's house. Yoshino had yet to return from her mother's and Sasuke got the distinct impression that he and the older man were keeping each other around so they weren't lonely.

Neji faxed him some papers to sign, still not letting the Uchiha do much, to his great annoyance. When he was done with that though, he found it almost too easy to lose himself in the busy work around the ranch.

Sasuke soon came to realize that his impression of Shikaku being a lazy man was incredibly false. If the Nara did all this by himself everyday without fail, then he was by no means half the things Tsume called him behind his back and to his face.

It was harder to stop thinking about Iruka that he had thought. He was after all surrounded by deer and damn it, Iruka really did have that doe brown eyes thing going for him. One afternoon, Sasuke found himself glaring at a fawn that had taken to following him around, angry that the cute gaze was familiar.

Shikaku caught him and decided he shouldn't be allowed near the fawns again.

While the days were easy to get lost in, as much as they refused the fly by, the nights were a different story. If he wasn't thinking about Iruka, then he was thinking about Itachi and what had happened. And when he was keeping himself up with that, then he was growing frustrated with work and how he wasn't allowed to run his own company.

When he found that he was unable to sleep on those nights, Sasuke got up. Shikaku was always in the kitchen, smoking at the table as he stared out the window, a freshly brewed pot of tea just waiting for the younger man. Sasuke sometimes wondered if Shikaku ever slept, or if he were keeping the older Nara up with worry.

And when he started to look for a new house, Shikaku helped him, instead of delaying his efforts like he thought he would and like Tsume would have.

All in all, Shikaku was...well, like a father. Sasuke didn't know how to deal with that feeling, so he worked around it. He couldn't remember what it was like to have someone looking after him like this without judging him and making him doubt himself. For that he was grateful.

And one night, when he finally managed to beat Shikaku at shogi, instead of scowling a declaring that there were several ways Sasuke could have ended the match earlier, the Nara just grinned slowly like he usually did, nodding when Sasuke just couldn't hide his smirk anymore. The silent praise was a constant in helping him forget about his troubles, as strange as that sounded.

He liked being here and so when he did purchase a house, he made sure it was only a half hour drive away. Shikaku seemed pleased by this.

It had been almost two weeks until Sasuke deemed it time to get back into the real world and onto his own two feet.

On his first day back to the city and his office he was treated somewhat cautiously at first by a few of the people who were not used to working with the Uchiha, Neji and Sai going on as if nothing had changed from before.

The Hyuuga had taken care of the tabloids when there was talk of the 'violent break up' as well as taking care of retrieving the Uchiha personal items from storage for the movers to get to the house.

By the time he had gotten to his new home that evening boxes were scattered everywhere throughout the large two story house. Tsume had...persuaded Neji to send Sasuke home early for the first few days of his return so he could work on getting settled into the house.

Sasuke eased back into routine effortlessly, even with protests and concerns that he take it slow. Later that week he flew to meet some investors, Neji and Sai going with him.

When the men had inquired about his love life, Neji had expected Sasuke to either dodge the question or be offended. Instead the raven had indulged the man, simply stating that he was too absorbed in work to bother with something so trivial.

Once the other requested for a lunch date at the end of the week in country to finalize the deal, Sasuke agreed, setting up reservations at a well established restaurant where he always had a table waiting.

The flight home made the other two men uneasy but they ignored it, finished out the week at home, keeping the house warming party Tsume had so cleverly planned from the young heir’s ears and suspicions.

But there was no need to keep such secrets. Had work been a religion, Sasuke would have been considered devout in his perusal of it. Uchiha Corp. had lost some investors while he was away growing madly happy and content in his love life and he quickly sought to correct the problem.

In the long days that followed Sasuke refused to leave his desk, sometimes opting to just stay the night in his office instead of going home to an empty house.

Even Shikaku couldn't pry the younger billionaire from his work and after a while, he stopped trying. They all did. And things went back to the way they were, including the weekly dinners that they all had together, just as they had done for the last several years until Itachi had disrupted their routines.

When Sasuke arrived at the restaurant Tsume was already buzzed, as well as Kiba and Shikamaru.

Shikaku had made sure Sasuke's seat was between him and his own son so that when Tsume was drunk she wouldn't fawn over him and inquire about finding a new love interest. The Nara's had been excellent at keeping the details under wraps, even from Neji when he had asked knowing that Sasuke would never indulge him with the information.

Chouji was on the other side of Shikaku and Kiba next to Shikamaru, Chouza sitting between him and his mother. Sai and Neji were only a few minutes behind the Uchiha, the two boys also considered family with the large group since they never seemed to be too far behind Sasuke wherever he went.

Which was unfortunate for Neji because Tsume proceeded to tell him in great length how her son had lost his anal virginity. The stoic man turned a light shade of green. Kiba and Chouji started a spit ball fight that Sai quickly joined in.

There were small pieces of stray paper flying everywhere before three wads the size of Sasuke's thumb hit the other boys square in the face. The fight ended and a smug Shikaku was declared the winner as he tucked his straw away.

Once their meal was brought everyone seemed to calm down and eat quietly, a slow casual conversation about whatever came up was made all through out dinner, Chouza keeping Tsume from telling anymore stories until they were all finished eating.

Afterwards, when the restaurant was emptying and they had polished off their food, the alcohol began to pour and many waiters cleared the immediate area. Tsume showed off the Miss Piggy tattoo on her ass while her boyfriend was using the restroom, shaking her butt in Neji's face and asking if it looked like the character was winking.

The Hyuuga switched seats with Chouji and Shikaku jumped up to stop the busty woman. When Chouza came back, the elder Nara was in a headlock gasping for breath as Sasuke and Shikamaru pried at Tsume's surprisingly strong grip.

Sai consoled the mortified Neji with a strong cup of sake, smiling as he reached out to massage the taller man's shoulders. Kiba snorted his drink, obviously emotionally damaged from the scene.

The night wore on and the alcohol flowed. Everyone by now was beyond buzzed, even Shikaku who was usually the one designated to get everyone home. Sasuke watched the older man as he let down his hair from the high ponytail, bringing a cigarette to his lips as he stared out through the floor to ceiling windows at the front of the restaurant.

The Uchiha knew he was drunk when he couldn't restrain himself from reaching out and stroking a hand through Shikaku's long hair. The other seemed used to it though and politely ignored Sasuke when he muttered, "Not as soft as his..."

Chouji somehow managed to organize a game of 'I Spy' in which everyone quit during Sai's turn because they didn't want to imagine what was ‘long, cylinder, skin tone, tattooed, and green’. Tsume later almost punched the younger man and asked when the hell he'd seen Chouza's penis.

Sasuke was watching as Sai started to chat up the waiter after Chouza had pulled Tsume away from the boy with the promise of sex later, before he ordered dessert.

"So, how was Kiba?" the busty brunette asked as she stared at Sasuke from across the table.

Kiba choked on his beer, Shikamaru giving him a hearty pat on the back while Kiba looked like he was actually going to die. Sasuke, being as drunk as he was and the fact that everything in the past few days seemed to be on the positive side, smirked.

"Other than whining like a girl?" he asked before Shikamaru yelped when Kiba's foot hit his shin, aiming for the Uchiha but missing.

Tsume roared with laughed, "No! He didn't really whine did he? Hell, I didn't even know he'd be the bitch, especially for you!"

She took a long drink of her sake before turning to Shikaku who was still smoking. "I owe you more money...how the hell do you know all of this?!"

The elder Nara just smirked, not bothering to give anymore detail.

"Though, I'm curious as to know what you said when people asked about the bite marks Sasuke left." Tsume commented, glaring at her son.

Sasuke simply shifted in his chair, the memory of that night was slightly disorienting, but it was arousing none the less. Shikamaru already had shifted a few times as his growing erection attempted to show itself.

Kiba was slightly less than enthusiastic about the event than the other two as he unconsciously rubbed his neck, glaring at Sasuke.

Shikaku laughed as he looked over, "Don't worry too much about it, hell I didn't know I'd bottom either with my first."

Chouza smiled at the memory, "I thought it was nice of you to think things out before we started."

Chouji and Shikamaru immediately let their psyche run to a place where their parents weren't talking about sex. They each fell into a Zen-like meditative state, staring blankly across the table.

Kiba looked up, "Really? You were on the bottom?"

Shikaku nodded, "I was...a bit too lazy to top anything."

"But you did top me," Chouza said, wrinkling his brows in confusion.

Shikaku waved his hand dismissively, "I didn't mean riding."

The Hyuuga continued to drink his sake, completely lost in his own mind once the sex conversation had started. He didn't know any details and didn't care to have any details while Sai on the other hand was enjoying every second of the conversation.

Tsume was staring between Shikaku and Chouza like she was trying to calculate just how drunk she'd have to get both men for a repeat performance. Kiba looked prouder, puffing his chest out and glaring at Sasuke with a smirk.

"You didn't whine though did you?" Sai asked politely.

Kiba deflated.

Shikaku shook his head as he lit another cigarette. "No, I cried."

Neji blinked and against his better judgment asked, "Cried?"

Shikaku nodded. "I was in a very emotional state in my life...and it hurt like hell."

Sasuke simply continued to smirk, sipping on his own Sake, content to listen to them talk. Kiba snorted, growing cocky again.

"Ha, bitch, even I didn't fucking cry! Tch, how fucking old were you? Twelve?" he cracked up.

"Yes," Shikaku answered, gliding his knowing gaze to the wild brunette. "And you whined...at twenty-two years. Hm, interesting."

Kiba snapped his mouth shut, "Fine, why don't I just sit here and shut the fuck up?"

"Would you mind shutting the fuck up a little quieter?" Sai asked with a bright smile.

Shikamaru snickered at the quick reply and Sasuke's smirk grew into a grin.

"Though I heard you were technically topped by both, so whining would be appropriate." Sai's smile didn’t wane.

Kiba snarled, "Why the fuck does everyone know about my sex life?! Who told you?!"

Sai stared at Neji who suddenly seemed very interested in what fabric the tablecloth was made from. Chouji came out of his trace, blinking widely as he watched Shikamaru and Sasuke hold back the enraged dog lover as he tried to reach for Neji's throat. The Hyuuga scooted ever so slightly to the relative safety Shikaku provided.

"I thought I told you two none of that double stuff." Tsume's voice was suddenly louder than Kiba's curses and threats.

"We didn't," Shikamaru answered smirking.

"Sasuke was in the middle," Shikaku added after a few moments pause.

Kiba whirled around to the older Nara, "Seriously, do you have fucking hidden cameras hidden all over the city?!"

Shikaku tapped the ash from the end of his cigarette into the tray before shaking his head, "No, that was too troublesome. Now I just call the psychic hotline."

Shikamaru snickered again, before he was punched in the arm by Kiba. "You told him didn't you?!"

"No, but I could tell them that you were begging for it in the bathroom before you gave him a blowjob," the younger Nara pointed his thumb at Sasuke when the action was mentioned.

Tsume's mouth dropped open and complete silence enveloped the table as Kiba gave up on any sense of dignity as slid under the table to hide.

The busty woman stared at Sasuke. "You got him to blow you?!"

Shikaku snuffed out his cigarette. "It wouldn't be the first time, Tsume."

She gaped at him, "What?! My baby?! Who?!"

"Inoichi," the elder Nara answered.

There was a strange gagging noise under the table that soundly vaguely like someone was trying to choke themselves.

Neji stared blankly at the others, "Has everyone at this table slept with each other excluding me and Sai?"

Sai perked up, "No need to exclude anyone! That would be rude!"

The Hyuuga glared as bright black eyes turned toward him accompanied by a brilliant smile.

"No," Neji said flatly.

Shikaku smirked while Chouji simply blushed.

"It wasn't hard," Sasuke answered the woman's question.

Sai smiled at Neji and petted the Hyuuga's leg.

"I think it's time for me to head home." He took the last of his sake in one gulp before standing.

"Me too!" Sai called excitedly.

Neji frowned, closing his eyes and audibly counting to ten before he reached for his cell to call a cab. He said his goodbyes to the table and walked out the doors, stumbling only once. Sai beamed happily and followed after him, looking much more sober than any of them had noticed.

Tsume glared at Shikaku, "I don't care what you said when you first met them, there's no way they're going to fuck each other."

The elder Nara just shrugged and brought out his wallet to pay the bill for them.

"You gonna make it, kid?" Shikaku asked as Sasuke managed to stand up, but off stepped and bumped into him.

"Yeah," Sasuke replied, glancing over at Tsume who was pulling Chouza towards the doors in a hurry.

Kiba ducked into the bathroom as Shikamaru was heading toward the door on his cell, a happy grin on his lips.

"You want a ride?"

"No, I'll make it." Sasuke nodded, giving the older man a reassuring smile before heading to the bathroom to empty his bladder for the long ride.

Once he had retrieved his keys from the valet, Sasuke headed out of the parking lot. After a few minutes of driving carefully, he was caught up at a particularly long red light across from a cozy little restaurant that was open late into the night.

He heard laughter that bubbled up and traveled through the air and his gut recognized it instantly. His first reaction was to smile, the weight that he hadn't noticed on his shoulders immediately easing as he glanced to the side.

Iruka was there at the door of the diner and even from this distance Sasuke could see the bright blush of the smaller man's cheeks. He watched Iruka adjust his glasses and laugh again at some inside joke only he remembered.

Sasuke was just drunk enough from being two seconds from leaving his car at the stop light and walking over to hug the drunken brunette. He stopped trying to unbuckle his seatbelt when Iruka was joined though.

Kakashi was smiling handsomely, his mouth and nose no longer covered by a scarf of high collar. He still wore the eye patch though.

Sasuke stared, his mind going numb to protect itself when the grey haired man wrapped his arms around Iruka's slender waist from behind. His fingers twitched, as if they were silently complaining that only they could do that to Iruka.

He expected the smaller professor to pull away like he did before, but instead he leaned back into the embrace, smiling happily as he looked up at Kakashi's face.

The light turned green, but Sasuke didn't notice as he watched the paler man lean in for a quick kiss that Iruka didn't deny him. Iruka giggled in that cute way of his, turning his face away as Kakashi pecked his nose and cheek and forehead, drifting down to the brunette's neck.

The smaller professor was either too drunk to remember he was supposed to hate this, or he was enjoying himself. As much as Sasuke wished it was the former, the laugh that bubbled up again and spilled from Iruka's lips told him otherwise.

The couple started walking down the street toward where Sasuke knew Iruka lived. It must have been the fact that his car wasn't moving on the nearly empty streets that made Kakashi notice him. He and the grey haired man caught each other's gaze, Kakashi looking more than surprised as his visible eye widened.

A few beats passed before the older man smirked cruelly and turned Iruka around, making the smaller body stumble. He didn't give the brunette a chance to complain before he delved down and crushed their lips together.

It was impossible from this distance, but he'd heard it so many times that he could swear Iruka had just moaned. He probably had. He looked like he was enjoying himself again.

Kakashi's visible eye didn’t stay closed however, instead it opened, locking onto the two that were intently watching them, making sure that Sasuke had seen everything. The taller professor's attention was turned back to Iruka when another moan was heard, this time it sounded more like a whimper.

Sasuke's grip tightened on the steering wheel before a loud honk interrupted his watching. He glanced in review mirror, another car having pulled up behind him when the light had turned back to red a few minutes prior but it was green now, and the driver was impatient.

Sasuke glared over at Kakashi, still locked in a deep kiss with Iruka whimpering in his hold before screeching from his stilled position, the tires kicking up clouds of white smoke before he pulled forward quickly, gone in an instant.

Kakashi smiled into the kiss, devoting his attention back to Iruka before the brunette could recover and shove him away again like he'd done all night.

When they parted, the taller professor only stared, holding his cute friend close to watch the different shades of red and pink blossom over Iruka's gently rounded cheeks. He brought a hand up to trace Iruka's pouting lips, flushed red with attention before the slender man pulled away, shaking his head.

Kakashi sighed, lacing his fingers with Iruka's as he led the drunken brunette home by the hand.

Sasuke screeched through the street, too drunk to care about stopping for anyone else. Streets and buildings were a blur as he passed them, and they slowly bled into a seemingly endless sea of green once he was out of the city.

At the moment Sasuke was unsure of why he was so pissed off at himself. Was it for actually being so naive that he actually believed he was right about Iruka's feelings for him or the fact that he had gotten so angry at Kakashi?

When had he become so possessive? When had he become so jealous? So weak? Or was he just pissed at Kakashi for rubbing Iruka in his face?

It didn't matter at this point, the alcohol was clouding his thoughts and the Uchiha wasn't thinking straight. He didn't care where he was headed, he just wanted something to make him forget about this, something he thought he had already done.

When Sasuke finally stopped, he sat still, gripping the wheel tightly as he attempted to twist it in his fist. No. He didn't care. Not if someone who had apparently loved him could easily move on. He was naive, he was stupid and he was pissed.

Sometime during the irrational thought process Sasuke had gotten out of his car and was headed for the front door to the home he had ended up at.

He waited for Ino to open the door, pausing when she looked up at him with her bright blue eyes that looked nothing like Iruka's.

Her lips were too full, her body too slim and plush, she was shorter than Iruka too. And her hair was very light and long and...nothing like Iruka. Sasuke leaned down, staring at her for a few short minutes.

Right now she was perfect. She wouldn't look at him like Iruka had that day, she would never blame him for something he just couldn't change, she wouldn't pretend to love him and then dismiss him like he was trash. Ino had worshipped him from the first moment they'd met...she would never....

Ino's lips were moving, but he didn't want to hear her right now. Sasuke pressed his mouth hungrily against hers in a flash, ignoring the moment of panic when she stiffened in his arms like she might pull away.

When she relaxed and pulled him inside, his gut clenched, because as the door shut, all he could think about was how happy Iruka had looked.

The weekend passed by quickly, Sasuke busying himself with work as a new set of investors sought him out as well as a few upcoming companies looking to hit it big.

It was the early afternoon and the Uchiha had just had a business lunch with a few of the older men, when he heard his name called out followed easily by “you son of a bitch”. Anko's voice was unmistakable and drew people's attention quickly before they turned away.

Sasuke was almost to his car only having given the busty woman a short glance. "What do you want?"

The brunette's eyes flashed furiously with the careless and cold tone the other used toward her. "I just wanted to let you know your little bitch had her nose broken. Or did you already know? Did you fucking send her to brag you bastard?!"

Sasuke turned and looked at Anko completely confused. "I don't know what you’re talking about."

She clenched her fist and took a dangerous step forward. "My ass you don't you whore!" she spat. "So what? Everyone you fuck is going to be sent to Iruka so you can show off?! Is that it?!"

"I didn't send anyone to you or Iruka, least of Ino..." Sasuke glared at Anko, the woman’s threat not scaring him at all.

She glared hatefully at him. "When are you going to be done screwing him up? Do you just get a sick kick out of it?"

"I didn't do anything." Sasuke took a step forward lowering his voice. "I wouldn't have gone to her if I had not seen him with Kakashi making out on the street, I was drunk and made a mistake, she had no right to tell him. I've done everything to avoid being near Iruka, why would I send someone to tell him about what I did?"

"Because you're just like Mizuki," Anko said deathly quiet. "...worse...at least he only tried to scar Iruka on the outside. You're fucking pathetic. A little boy playing in a grown up's world."

Sasuke's short nails nipped into the skin on his palm as he fought back the urge to punch Anko.

"If you actually knew me then you would know that I would never do anything to hurt that man. You're just looking for someone to blame and it happens to be me. I can't control what other people do, all I know is I tried to protect him when he and I were attacked. I am nothing like him." Sasuke's dark eyes were narrowed, a slight glassy look to them.

Anko just shook her head, stepping back as if she were disgusted. "Great job you're doing of proving that," she said and she turned and started walking. "And why don't you protect Iruka by getting the paparazzi away from the apartment you prick?"

She didn't wait for a response, not expecting one. Right now she needed to put some ice on her fist from when she’d punched Ino in the face after the stupid bitch had met them in the market. And then run back home where she'd left Kakashi alone with Iruka. Damn it, that cycloptic bastard was going to get his ass kicked for kissing Iruka when he’d been pissed drunk!

Sasuke stood, watching as Anko disappeared around the corner before he turned back to his car, immediately calling Neji to get the restraining order changed to include their new apartment and to get something, anything to shut Ino up.

Anko wasn't good at comforting others.

She wasn't the type of woman that would sit down and talk through feelings while eating ice cream and watching chick flicks. When someone she cared for was hurt, her immediate response was to hurt whatever had caused that pain.

So after she was through with Sasuke, she went back home and threw Kakashi from the apartment, furious with him when she'd seen how closely he'd held Iruka to his chest. The male brunette was still sobbing, poorly hiding it as he lay on his bed.

And Anko being Anko, did the thing that came naturally to her. She undressed them both slowly, making sure Iruka was okay with this before she got into bed with him, wrapping him up in her arms and holding him close before she tried to entice a reaction.

Iruka stopped crying and moved with her desperately, losing himself as fast as he could. Anko let him inside her and made him forget his pain for a while, the least she could do.

And when they were done and he had fallen asleep, she laid awake, staring at the ceiling as she petted a hand through his hair, wondering if she'd be able to steal some of his conditioner without him noticing.

By the time the sun had gone down, Neji had managed to get Iruka and Anko's new apartment onto the restraining order and out to the police in order to get the reporters away from their home. Ino was a different matter. When Neji went to talk to her, she had wanted to press charges against Anko for assault, but other than that her mouth had be shut.

Once Sasuke had finished out the day at the office he packed up everything he needed to work from his house, even asking Sai to come the next day to help with things. He had ignored his cell phone ringing since he had returned from the office after lunch, Ino's incident having gotten around rather quickly with people who knew him.

So when Shikaku approached the Uchiha on his way to his car, Sasuke wasn't surprised.

The elder Nara seemed tired from the day he'd been having, but Sasuke didn't ask, and he didn't share. "You haven't answered my messages," he said gruffly once they came within range.

"Been busy," Sasuke replied as he opened his trunk, placing a few things inside. "I'm not coming to dinner." He answered the question he knew was coming next, closing the trunk and turning to look at Shikaku.

He didn't look surprised. "May I ask why?"

"I'm just not up for it," Sasuke said.

Shikaku shuffled around in his heavy coat for a pack of cigarettes, "If that's the only answer I have to give to Tsume...."

"I assume you heard about what happened." Sasuke stood rolling his keys in his hand. "I'm not going to let it happen again."

"You let your jealousy get the better of you," Shikaku murmured, "It happens to the best of us."

"I shouldn't have let it happen in the first place." Sasuke moved to his door, unlocking it manually and opening it.

"True," the other man sighed, finally finding his cigarettes and lighting one between his lips. "Is there no way I can talk you into coming to dinner tonight?"

He looked up at the elder Nara as he sat down. "No, I'm just going to go home."

Shikaku wanted to say something to comfort the boy, maybe impress upon him some few words of wisdom, but instead he turned and walked away, tossing a wave over his shoulder. "You'll be missed."

Sasuke waited until he couldn't see Shikaku before closing the door. His decision had been made before the elder man had come to see him and once Sasuke's mind had been made up, there was no changing it. He peeled off, heading towards his home.

When Tsume called to inquire the reasoning as to why Sasuke wasn't coming, the Uchiha didn't answer his phone. This went on for more than a week.

His friends, those he considered as close to family as he'd ever get, continued to try and get through to him. But it was difficult if not impossible. Tsume, Chouza, and Shikaku all had their own businesses to run, so taking time away for so long was irritating. And pointless.

Sasuke was bound and determined to shut everyone out and he was doing a damn good job of it. Not even when Kiba and Shikamaru stopped by his home, the wild brunette trying some fumbling attempts at flirting with him did he look up from his work.

There was too much to take care of anyway. Investors needed reassuring, developers needed the green light to start their designs, patents needed to be granted... Really it was a wonder none of this had piled on top of him before. Sasuke ignored the outside world, quickly losing himself in his work as though little else mattered.

After him missing three 'family' dinners in a row, Tsume took things into her own claws.

Iruka was cleaning and trying to convince Anko that no, he actually wouldn't look good in those heels when he answered the door. It was rather a shock to see Inuzuka-san standing tall and looking down at him with something like pity in her eyes. Iruka didn't know what to say as he stood there naked except for one of Anko's old shirts that ended around his mid-thigh.

Tsume's sharp gaze pierced him up and down, narrowing slightly when Anko popped her head over his shoulder to see who it was. The other professor was completely bare and it apparently gave Tsume the wrong impression. She spun on her heel to leave without a word. Iruka stared before running out into the hall and touching her elbow.

"It's not like that," he said quickly, unaware exactly as to why he felt the need to clarify this. "She's my friend."

Tsume stopped, letting a beat pass between them before she nodded. Anko was peering out after them, no doubt curling her hand around the bat they kept by the door just in case. The taller woman was quiet and didn't bother to look at the male brunette now standing in front of her. Iruka rubbed his scar and adjusted his glasses nervously.

"Tsume-san...why are you here? Is Sasuke okay?"

She glanced down at him, studying his doe brown eyes like she was looking for something he didn't know if he had. Slowly she shook her head and sighed, snapping a glare to a man down the hall who was taking too much time in entering his apartment as he slid his oily gaze up and down Iruka's legs.

She scowled fiercely and the stranger found he actually did want a long and healthy life with his balls and slammed the door behind him as he sought safety inside. Iruka either didn't notice the exchange or choose to ignore it as he pulled at Tsume's jacket like an impatient child.

"Is Sasuke hurt?! Where is he?!" he snapped.

Tsume slipped a hand into the inside pocket of the silken vest she wore under the suit jacket, pulling something out. "You said he had Itachi's eyes," she said softly.

Iruka let go of her clothing, taking a step back as his mouth fell shut. He remembered what he'd said. He couldn't...why did she have to bring it up? Why now when he was finally getting used to not falling asleep crying to himself?

The smaller brunette crossed his arms in front of his chest, holding them tightly to his body as though he needed a barrier between him and her words. He expected her to yell, throw a punch, hell, maybe even find a reason to slap a lawsuit on him. He didn't expect her to wave a photo in his face, showing it out for him to see clearly.

"He doesn't have Itachi's eyes," she said just as quietly as she had before. "He has her eyes."

Even if the circumstances had been different and Iruka had just stumbled upon the picture by chance, he still would have known that this was Sasuke's mother. There was no way she couldn't have been.

The photo was old, wrinkled around the edges with blurred out splotches that looked like tear-marks. His mother was at a picnic in a clearing surrounded by forest, a lake lapping at her feet as she cocked her head and looked over her shoulder.

She was beautiful, wearing a red and yellow polka dotted bikini. When the picture was taken, she'd obviously been too young to have had Sasuke and Iruka noted she had no ring on the hand she was waving.

She couldn't have been over sixteen and he was willing to bet anything that the foot that was poking her in the back that had made her turn around belonged to a younger Tsume. Iruka’s eyes swept the pale woman's features, instantly picking out which ones Sasuke had gotten without meaning to.

Her hair was slightly unruly, her brows thin and elegant, her skin incredibly fair, her nose straight and perfect...and her eyes thick lashed and velvety black....

Iruka took the picture to stare at it closely, his throat tightening up as he tried not to make any noise. Sasuke...Sasuke looked just like her...nothing like Itachi who must have gotten his looks from their father.

He finally let out a sad laugh that ended quickly. "He...he has her smirk," Iruka said, swallowing thickly.

Tsume's grin was slow and lopsided, not so unlike the one her son always sported. "Funny how that happens isn't it?"

Iruka laughed again, taking a few seconds to wipe the back of his hand over his reddened eyes. "I...I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have--"

Tsume waved her hand. "I don't want to hear it and even if I did, I'm not the one you should be telling it to first."

She sighed, taking back the picture offered to her and sliding it carefully back into her vest pocket. "He's...not like he used to be. There's nothing I can do to help him and...I don't know what I'm doing here talking to you for but...I don't know what else to do."

Iruka lowered his gaze as she rubbed her temples. "What do you want from me?" he asked softly. "There's nothing I can say to take back what I did...and I still...there were things he said before that...."

"You don't have to do anything," the taller brunette said. "I just wanted you to know."

Iruka stared at her as she grabbed his hand and pulled out a pen, writing a number and an address over his palm.

"This is his house phone and his new place..." she dropped his wrist and put her pen back into her pocket. "Just...at least call him, give him something..."

Tsume shook her head like the whole trip had been pointless and turned to leave. "And get some damned clothes on, you'll catch a cold."

Iruka blinked and looked up as she glared at him before the doors to the elevator closed. Slowly he stared back down at his hand, an unpleasant numbing sensation spreading through his body. Anko stepped up silently to his side, glancing at his palm before sliding a comforting arm around his waist, tugging him back inside.

They didn't talk to each other, instead going back to cleaning. By the time they were through, the day had passed and Iruka was staring down at his palm, wondering if he should copy down the smudged numbers or wash his hands of it.

Sasuke was up just after the sun had peeked over the hills guarding the large man made lake behind his home, the reddish orange light filtering through his windows waking the Uchiha for the day's activities. After running around his new property and showering, Sasuke dressed in a suit as if he was actually going to head into town.

Instead he headed to the conference room he’d set up and the direct link to Sai so the always smiling man could fax him anything they needed. This had been the young heir’s routine for the past few weeks, only leaving once when he was needed overseas.

His phone rang, vibrating in his pants pocket. The raven pulled it out, giving the bright screen a glance over before depositing it onto his desk. It was Tsume, calling to see if he was going to cancel on them again. When he didn't answer after the fifth time she stopped trying, the phone going silent and leaving the Uchiha to his work.

About two hours later the small device vibrated again, this time Sasuke had been too absorbed in his paperwork to remember to look at the screen, answering it with a quick greeting.

Shikaku returned the starched hello with a sigh, blowing out his mouthful of smoke. They conversed for a few minutes, the elder explaining how worried Sasuke was making everyone and that they missed his presence, even Kiba having complained about being bored with no one to tease.

After refusing the invitation once again, they hung up, Shikaku giving a sad, disapproving sound before they were disconnected. Sasuke worked through lunch, keeping his mind off the fact that there were people who actually cared and missed him.

He continued on, only stopping when Neji called him about a meeting next week. Without the distraction of words and figures running though his brain the raven sat staring out of the large window adorning the wall across from him, looking out over the bluish-green lake.

He couldn't help but remember the nightmares he was having on a regular basis, family members coming to ask him why he had not saved them, or Iruka laying on his bed disfigured and screaming while Itachi simply sat smirking while painting a picture with the professor’s blood.

They were coupled with flashbacks and then abrupt awakenings when the young billionaire would end up emptying the contents of his stomach from the night before into the toilet. And those were the nights he did sleep.

It had been like this when his family was killed, and it took months to 'cure' him of it, doctors and psychologists couldn't help the boy, so when it was suggested that he seek help, it was quickly dismissed by the Uchiha who left no room for further discussion.

Neji's voice pulled Sasuke out of his thoughts when the Hyuuga had to practically yell to get the raven haired man's attention.

"I'm sorry, you were saying?" Sasuke closed the drawer on his desk he had been opening, the gun he had purchased laying on top of a stack of files.

He pressed the wireless headset to his ear, deciding he needed some water for the bile taste that had risen in his throat. After making sure Sasuke was alright, Neji continued on, reading over a few things, places, dates, construction sites and estimates as well as flight dates that the Uchiha could just not get out of.

Sasuke headed down the hall and into the large kitchen, nodding while only half listening as the Hyuuga continued on when the doorbell rang. The heir sighed, setting down the glass of ice water after only a sip as he headed to answer the entryway.

He glanced down at his watch, noting that there were no scheduled deliveries for today or any this week. Upon opening the door Sasuke stopped, and blinked, staring. He had expected it to be Shikaku coming to try and negotiate with him in person to come to dinner that night...

"Neji, I'll have to call you back." Sasuke said before pressing the button on the side of the headset to hang up on the thoroughly confused man on the other end of the line before pulling the earpiece from his ear.

Was he hallucinating now?

Iruka lifted his thick lashes, bringing his doe brown eyes to the black gaze boring into him. He searched Sasuke's face, his heart beat quickening instantly until it was almost painful to breathe. The taxi behind him at the end of the long driveway left without a second glance, leaving the two alone.

The brunette broke the eye contact first, sweeping his glance to the side to view the sparkling lake and surrounding woods that somehow look manicured and planned.

He hadn't planned this out like he should have. Anko hadn't given him any advice before he left that he could use now...but....

Iruka looked up again, his breath hitching. Sasuke...Sasuke didn't have Itachi's eyes, or Mizuki's...he'd been wrong in a way that he didn't think could be fixed. He opened his mouth, his nerves making his stomach flutter as he wondered what Sasuke would do. It had been so long...and all he really wanted to do was hug the younger man and...

Iruka glanced down, mentally shaking himself. "I...if you...I can leave..." he said quietly. "Tsume, she...”

When Iruka spoke Sasuke knew he hadn't been seeing things. Iruka was standing on his doorstep. It took a few seconds for the brunette's words to reach him and He stepped out of the way of the smaller man, brows furrowed in complete confusion.

Iruka didn't know what to do for a few long moments and just stood there, finding a spot on Sasuke's chest he found he could keep eye contact with. When his doe brown gaze finally managed to dart up to scan the raven's face, he was immediately struck with overwhelming guilt that made him sick to his stomach.

Sasuke looked so tired, even through his surprise it was easy to tell he hadn't been sleeping well.

The brunette swallowed thickly before taking a very small step inside. The cool air greeted him, brushing a few tendrils that had fallen loose from his ponytail. He swept them back, looking at the entryway before slipping off his shoes and nudging them to the side.

Sasuke shut the door behind Iruka, slipping the small earpiece into his pocket while still trying to make his brain believe his eyes. He knew he had looked startled when he opened the door but now the raven was working to get that expression off his features, slowly managing to calm his thoughts down to a single mostly coherent stream.

"Would you like something?" Sasuke asked after clearing his throat and stepping up beside the smaller man.

Iruka started to decline, but glanced up and saw how lost the younger man looked. He nodded slightly, his gaze traveling again. "Tea?"

Sasuke nodded and headed towards the kitchen, Iruka following a few steps behind. Once in the brightly lit, open room, Sasuke busied himself with filling the pan with water to boil and then attempting to find his small tea pot and cups, but only managed to find two coffee mugs and the individually bagged tea he had bought.

He set the small sugar bowl on the counter on the Island, leaning over the flat topped stove to make sure it was within Iruka's reach before getting the professor a spoon. He was desperately searching his brain for something to say, unsure of the smaller man's intentions for being there.

"If there's anything else…" Sasuke said, his voice was calm and smooth and his features were flat, the only indication that something was wrong was the slight furrow to the dark brows.

Iruka didn't touch his cup, far too caught up in watching the spot on Sasuke's chest, struggling with himself to bring his gaze higher. He didn't have anything to say, there was nothing he could say... He glanced down at his tea, unwilling to drink any in case it upset the strained balance his mind and stomach were in.

The professor looked around, noticing that most of the kitchen was bare and there were a few boxes in the corner waiting to be put away. "You haven't unpacked yet," he said.

"I haven't had the time," Sasuke answered, watching as Iruka took in the room carefully.

The smaller man looked more than a bit nervous, or maybe he was uncomfortable, either way Sasuke could tell that he did not want to stay.

"Right of course," the brunette said, feeling stupid.

Of course Sasuke had been busy, before they'd met he had worked all the time. Now he finally didn't have someone dragging him down and begging for scraps of his valuable time.

The younger picked up on the other man's tone. "I've been keeping myself busy, I haven't thought about it much." Sasuke glanced over at the boxes then back at Iruka, neither having touched their tea that was quickly cooling down.

Iruka nodded before pausing, "...I...I wanted to tell you...." He couldn't. He adjusted his glasses, uncomfortable with talking right now and hating that this was suddenly such unfamiliar territory.

Sasuke just stood on the other side of the counter, not wanting to rush anything. He had not imagined that Iruka would bother to look at him or call him, let alone show up on his door step. It suddenly occurred to the young heir that Iruka didn't know where he had moved to so someone must have given the smaller man his address.

The professor’s first words repeated in his head. "Tsume sent you?" Sasuke asked, keeping back his annoyance that the motherly woman would have gone that far just to get him out of the house. "I'm sorry if she bothered you."

Iruka looked up at the change in tone, his eyes widening. "No, it's not…not like that at all," he said hurriedly. "She gave me your new information but...I wanted to come."

The raven looked up at Iruka, watching the smaller man's body movements as to make sure that he had heard him right. Wanted to come. He didn't know what to say. After their last encounter, the hotel, Sasuke never expected to see Iruka again.

The brunette fell silent again, letting it stretch between them like a wall neither knew how to break. "Why...would you think she'd have sent me?"

Sasuke's eyes wandered back to the counter. "I've been working from here so I don't have to go into town," he answered, leaving out the reason and any other details concerning why she would go to such an extreme length.

Iruka accepted it without question, silently chastising himself for being so nosey. He rubbed his scar, his gaze sliding away. "Your new home is beautiful," he said honestly.

"Shikaku helped pick it out, he's not far from here..." Sasuke glanced out the window. "...actually his property intersects with mine in the woods somewhere." Sasuke shook his head, knowing the detail wasn't that important.

"I like it," Iruka commented. "It seems very relaxing."

"It is." Sasuke nodded. The room grew silent again, neither sure what to say.

"I could show you around, if you'd like?" he suggested quietly after a few minutes of the deafening silence. "The house at least..."

The brunette nodded quickly, anxious to move around and do something with his body before he did anything stupid. "Yes, I'd like that."


A/N: Dom- bum bum BUUUUUUUUMMMMMM! ...so yeah. Good times and rock on, ne?