Dealing with Love (Complete)

This story is dedicated to Deceptively Sweet and the chapter to Calamus as they have helped me frame the ideas and the story.

To Calamus: thank you for your ideas, I hope you like the way they’ve been used! They were invaluable and really kudos to you. Thank you for helping, I love you….I really do!!

To Deceptively Sweet: Hey darling, I love you for helping me with those ideas. Hank you for listening to me endlessly talk about the story throughout your visit and our classes and throughout the time we spent in college and on the phone!! I love you, girlfriend, you’ve been extremely supportive in helping me get this complicated story onto paper. So thank you!

To reviewers: your reviews made me work faster, so thanks a lot. I’m glad you like it and will make you proud, I promise!! Love you all

Chapter 3: Testing the Waters

Naruto tensed completely in Sasuke’s arms. But he couldn’t act disgusted or angry with Tsunade standing there still. He pulled away and glared at Tsunade, using his anger to his advantage.

“Baa-chan! You have a really horrible sense of timing! I can’t believe you’d walk in on us without knocking!” Naruto yelled, making it more of a whine as it needed to be.

Tsunade looked really embarrassed. “Yeah, I’m so sorry Naruto…it’s just I haven’t seen you in ages and you haven’t had anyone with you for so long… I just got worried about the noise….uh….I should go now. See you later.”

She turned and shut the door. Naruto stood stock still making sure she was gone before punching the Uchiha’s stomach with all his strength…or all the strength he could muster in his current shocked state.

“Teme! Don’t-ever-touch-me-like-that-again!” Naruto ground out glaring at the Uchiha on the floor.

Sasuke stared at the blond wondering why he’d act like that because of a kiss. Then a bit of anger surged in him….the blond had said that they should act like a couple…but then he refused to let himself be touched and when Sasuke tried the only way he knew how, he’d get beaten up. “You told me to act like we’re a couple! She was about to hear you, because you were shouting! How was I supposed to stop you? By punching the lights out of you?”

Sasuke saw the blond’s hands clench. “Next time, I give you permission to punch me Sasuke. I don’t want to be touched…no hugging, kissing and touching, unless it’s absolutely necessary understand. I don’t want to pull a master-slave relationship on you. I did not buy you for sex. But if you push me too far, then I’ll have to order you to stop doing things I don’t like, all right?”

Sasuke wanted to rebel. He’d rebelled against his training, he’d rebelled against Orochimaru and he’d sworn to rebel against any person who thought they could give him orders. Bu something in Naruto’s eyes told him to agree. He nodded. “Only in front of other people. We’ll have to be touchy-feely when we’re in front of other people…at least a bit. So only in front of other people.”

“Glad that you understand.” Naruto watched him get back on the bed. “I’d prefer it if you slept on my right side and if you kept to your side of the bed. I need a nap.”

Sasuke rolled onto his side and watched Naruto fall onto the bed, a hand over his eyes. He tossed and turned, but suddenly the mattress didn’t seem nice anymore. He tried to get some sleep, but his mind lingered on the question of what could be eating the dobe so much…he’d reacted so badly. Finally he picked up the pillow and a thin sheet that lay at the foot of the bed and made himself comfortable on the nice carpeted floor. Lying there, he shook his head to stop himself from dwelling further on his master’s reactions. Maybe he hadn’t got a good master, after all?

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The rain fell in sheets. It put a damper on the day. He wondered where Kyuubi had run off to. She did she’d be back in a minute. He wished he could shake this uneasy feeling in his heart…maybe he should go look for her. He started heading towards the town square which was ten minutes away by foot. That’s where Kyuubi had said she wanted to go.

The feeling in his heart made his feet move faster…his breath came in pants. He had to get to her, make sure she was safe and then take her to her favorite ramen place. Kyuubi adored ramen. He pictured her smiling at him, her golden eyes shining with excitement as he bought her a bowl of ramen. Her red hair flowing around that perfect neck, emphasizing the paleness of her skin. He ran faster now, as fast as he could go in fact.

The town square loomed in the distance, he could see the huge snake statue that graced the centre of the square…one more turn and he would be there. He made it and stopped short. Kyuubi was standing there, soaked, her gold eyes wide with fear. She turned to see Naruto…and shook her head.

“No, don’t come closer…it’s dangerous.” She called out, her husky voice a little higher in pitch due to the fear.

Naruto started running towards her anyway, as he saw the trigger being pulled. He had to save her. He was about two feet from her, when the bullet hit her in the chest, followed by two more. He watched as the light disappeared from her gold eyes…he was powerless to stop it. The last bit that remained conveyed her love, before it dulled and she fell.

“KYUUBII, NO!”

Sasuke started in shock as he heard the scream and saw Naruto jerk awake, covered in sweat and panting hard. Tears were coursing down, his wide fear filled eyes…eyes that Sasuke never wanted to see again. Sasuke wondered what to do…he was trained in what to do when it came to nightmares, but Naruto had said no touching right?

He got onto the bed once more…on his side and hesitantly reached a hand out to let a finger touch Naruto’s shoulder, making sure the blue eyes were watching him. The fingers touched…then the hand covered the blond’s shoulder, but Naruto still didn’t make a move. Sasuke inched closer…until his arm had slid around the blond’s shoulder and then carefully, led Naruto to lean into him, with only absolutely necessary contact.

Using only that contact he held the blond as he sobbed into his shirt. The hand around Naruto’s shoulder was used to rub light soothing circles on his back. “Shh…it was a nightmare. Calm down, Naruto.”

The blond continued to sob for a few minutes before pushing Sasuke away and running to the bathroom. Sasuke felt a little bewildered…he had no idea what was going on and the blond’s mask seemed to be slipping on and off constantly. If this continued then he would need some pills to get rid of headaches like the one that was beginning.

Naruto came out looking calmer. He glanced at Sasuke, at the pillow and sheet on the floor and then turned away. “I’m going for a walk. We’ll be meeting baa-chan downstairs in two hours time. Until then you can do what you want…explore where you wish.”

Sasuke watched the blond slam the door shut. He sighed, wondering if this would go on for the month. Then he changed into more comfortable clothing, set the sheet and pillow back on the bed and decided to explore the place himself. Coming down the stairs he met an old man with flowing white hair and two red lines tattooed on his face.

The man grinned. “Ah you must be Sasuke-kun…Naruto’s boyfriend. My wife told me all about you. I don’t bend that way, but you sure are a nice piece of ass.”

Sasuke wondered how to react. Wasn’t he a slave because he was a nice piece of ass? Or was he supposed to contradict that? How could he answer without seeming like a liar or a narcissist? So he settled for a shrug.

Jiraiya grinned some more. “So you want to take a look around? Want me to show you all Naruto’s old haunts and feed you embarrassing stories about him?”

Sasuke considered this. Well, if Naruto wasn’t going to reveal anything about himself, then Sasuke would just have to find out on his own. “Sure, why not?” he answered walking away with the guffawing old man.

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He watched the two of them, smile and talk to their guests, looking so perfect together. It riled him that Naruto had found someone else even after he’d killed that Kyuubi girl. And now this Sasuke character was there to be dealt with…he wondered if this boy would also prove to be difficult.

No one was allowed to see that smile directed at them. Naruto was supposed to look at him and only him. Of course it would prove a little difficult to get the blond’s undivided attention, but he would manage it. He let his eyes roam the firm tan skin, the golden hair and deep blues pools of sky. Naruto was divine…an angel…an angel only he should possess.

He devoured the toned muscles of the blond’s chest which showed through the open light blue shirt, the firm butt covered by the khaki slacks. He wanted more than ever to be at the blond’s side…to take the raven haired man’s place. Naruto would be his. Shaking with excitement he turned away from them, letting other people draw his attention away from his beloved.

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Naruto could hardly contain his amusement…genuine amusement, as another girl in a bunny suit approached him with a tray of drinks. Though Tsunade had arranged a respectable garden party, Jiraiya had sprung a surprise on her by switching the catering services. It was excessively entertaining to see her eyebrow twitch in annoyance each time a scantily clad girl passed her…but as it was Jiraiya's birthday, she was forced to tolerate it with a smile.

Naruto shook his head and sighed, waving the bunny girl away. He turned to see Sasuke being harangued by an old acquaintance…Kyuubi’s best friend Ino. He frowned wondering how the dark haired man was holding up…afraid of what he might have let slip…you never knew. Sasuke was a slave so he had to service men…but what if Sasuke liked girls? Would he let anything slip to Ino? He went up to them and saw Sasuke give him what looked like a relived smirk.

“Naruto, what took you so long? Yamanaka-san has been telling me all about you and has asked me about twenty times whether I’m really into men and would I mind spending some time with her, so she could show me around?” Sasuke said. Naruto noted that the man sounded annoyed. He shrugged and looked at his old friend.

“Ino-pig! It’s been a while…how’ve you been?” His eyes gleamed.

Ino smiled at him, hugging him. “Naruto-kun. I’m fine…still single. Here I was thinking you’d finally give me a chance, but you’ve moved on at last. I was trying to chat up your boyfriend…I wanted to drown my grief that you weren’t available with a hot guy…”

“Keep off, him. He’s my property.” Naruto smirked at her. He didn’t see Sasuke wince as he said that.

“Yeah…yeah.” Then her eyes softened. “I’m so glad you’ve moved on, Naruto…even if it wasn’t with me. She’d be happy to know you’ve found someone you love.”

Naruto nodded suddenly feeling guilty for lying to her. Hurt about Kyuubi mingled into the emotion and it was all he could do not to snap at Ino for bringing his late fiancée up. Ino had been in love with him…she’d backed off when he’d asked Kyuubi to marry him. And when Kyuubi had died, Ino had tracked him down and tried to help him get over it. But he couldn’t move on, couldn’t want anyone but Kyuubi…when he’d moved, he’d cut off all contact with her…she must have understood because she didn’t contact him after that either. “So Ino, what have you been up to?”

Ino shrugged. “Not much actually. I started a flower shop here in Suna…built a greenhouse and I can grow any flower I wish to…doing very well actually…I don’t need to depend on my family’s cash anymore.”

“Good for you.”

Ino suddenly looked away. “I’ll get going now, Naruto-kun. Tsunade-san is calling me for something. I hope she’s not going to grouse about the bunny girls…” then she left hurriedly and Naruto caught sight of the pain in her eyes. He’d have to find somebody she’d like soon.

Sasuke saw those blue eyes melt into a melancholy expression and overflow with pain…sadness. He couldn’t help it. He put his arms around the blond and hugged him from behind…his chest against the blond’s back. Naruto stiffened once more, but Sasuke didn’t budge, finally the blond relaxed. Both let the moment sink in…Sasuke trying to be comforting and Naruto trying to understand and accept that same comfort. Sasuke rested his head on Naruto’s shoulder.

“I know you said I mustn’t do this…” Sasuke whispered into the blond’s ear. Most people would think they were having a sweet couple talk. “I don’t understand what you feel dobe…I can’t. Then again, I don’t want you to be lonely, Naruto-sama. I know how that feels…and I don’t think you should be lonely… I’m around…even if I am a slave who’ll leave in a month.” Sasuke sounded sincere although bastard-like…he really didn’t want or like anyone feeling lonely. Especially not his master…a business man like him surrounded by people shouldn’t have to be lonely.

Naruto didn’t know how to respond…and well Sasuke sounded like everything should be okay, just because he was around. If the same thing had happened to him back when Kyuubi was alive…he wouldn’t be hearing it in the first place and even if he had, he’d have been able to respond smoothly…not feel the urge to hug the bastard back and bury himself in the pain. But before he could say anything…

“Hello boys…not disturbing anything, am I?”

They moved apart and turned to look at the man. Sasuke saw someone who looked like Naruto’s clone, only with longer, shaggier hair. The man was handsome…undeniably sexy and his smile was also charming and playful. He was grinning at them in amusement and eyeing Sasuke up and down.

“So Naruto, not going to introduce me?”

Sasuke turned to see Naruto’s face…a mass of warring emotions…love, hate, anger, happiness, guilt, denial and desperation. Then they vanished; a smile replacing them…Sasuke had never seen anything so fake…it looked worse than those tiny replicas of the Otogakure square. Naruto continued to smile.

“Dad…hey!” the blond swallowed. “This is my boyfriend Uchiha Sasuke. Sas-chan, meet my dad, Uzumaki Arashi.”

Sasuke half-smiled and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Uzumaki-san.”

“You too, Sasuke. Naruto has very good taste I must say. I heard you work at his company…how did you meet?” Arashi asked him.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto for a moment…but the dobe was suddenly very pale. Sasuke wondered why Naruto was shaking lightly…then he decided to make it up on his own…he hoped he knew enough. “Uh…well, I was on my way home from work…we’d kind of met by then. Then I got mugged… I was a little tied up you could say…no belongings…and then Naruto came out of no where…and let me crash at his house for a while. We got close.”

“What’s Naruto’s favorite food?”

“Ramen.”

“Favorite colour?”

“Orange…but he likes blue a lot too.”

“Habits?”

“He likes saying the formal prayer anytime he eats…even in meetings. He sleeps on his back…usually with a hand over his eyes. And he cocks his head to the right when he’s confused…can be unusually loud when he doesn’t want people knowing what’s wrong with him, loves warm sake…especially a cup when he gets home…and is superstitious about stirring whatever he makes four times…touches wood while saying bad things…”

“All right…stop. So you know everything about him?”

“Everything I notice or he wants to tell me, Uzumaki-san.”

“Ahhaha…well, I’m sorry I tested you. I just needed to see if my boy has really moved on. He hasn’t let anyone close to him since an incident a few years ago. Take good care of him, Sasuke. I’m sure you know we’re having a few problems…he refuses to talk to me…” Arashi scratched his head a bit.

They waited but Naruto didn’t respond. Instead he looked around and then smiled in a sort of relieved way. “Hey look, there’s Kurenai-san…she’s my old teacher, come on I want you to meet her!! Sorry dad, I’ll come see you later ok?” He dragged Sasuke away before the man could say good bye.

Sasuke found himself introduced to so many guests by the time the lunch was over, his mind of a jumble of names and faces. Naruto didn’t even give him time to ask him what was wrong, most probably that was exactly what the blond was aiming for. Finally by mid-afternoon, everyone had left and the men had some time to themselves.

“Naruto, why aren’t you on speaking terms with your dad?”

The blond looked at him, expression unreadable before turning away in annoyance. “It’s none of your business Sasuke. Why don’t you get some rest before the family dinner, ok?”

Sasuke wondered whether he should try again, but left it at that. Naruto was an enigma for him…it was hard to understand why the man kept himself in his cloistered little shell, while he could have so many friends. Sasuke had just had a taste of the world outside and found that he liked it very much. Sighing he just got back onto the floor with the necessary items, turned on his side and went to sleep.

Naruto turned to his investment, sound asleep on the floor next to his side of the bed. He knew his father was suspicious and wondered when Sasuke had learnt all that about him. Maybe the man was really observant. Somehow what Sasuke had said still rang in his ears…he looked at Kyuubi’s picture and gave her a half smile. “Things just keep getting more complicated. Why couldn’t he just be what he is? A normal slave who knows how to act and who listens to what his master says. Instead he just keeps breaking the rules that I set him…”

He walked over to the sleeping form and covered him with the quilt; it might get colder when the air-conditioning was turned on. “I’ll wake you in a while Sasuke. Sleep well.”

He picked up the phone to contact a well known furniture store; he had to do something about Sasuke’s love for the floor…

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There was another smaller family dinner. Again Sasuke felt extremely awkward, with everyone expecting him to be completely in love with Naruto, to smile at him, make jokes about him and such like. He had no idea how to behave like he was in love, because he had never been in love or been loved before. Again, Arashi was there…watching him seemingly waiting for him to make one move that would prove he was fake. Sasuke squirmed a bit trying to ease the tension out of his shoulders.

Naruto noticed the way Sasuke was fidgeting every time the raven felt his father’s eye on him. He’d been relived to find that Sasuke was adept at eating at meals like this and knew which fork to use. He tried to get Sasuke’s attention, but failed miserably as the man opposite him kept his eyes on the food before him. “Sas-chan, pass me the salt would you?”

Sasuke complied with a smile for Naruto. He wondered if he should use any nicknames too. ‘Dobe’ wouldn’t sound too good, would it? Could he be mean to the person he loved? He turned to see Naruto having a conversation with Tsunade.

“So how is Kakashi, Naruto? Haven’t been able to talk to him much…” Tsunade asked.

“He’s fine, baa-chan. He’s met some guy now…he goes to visit him quite regularly…the man seems to be cute.” Naruto replied.

Then Sasuke had it, it was something he’d dredged up from what memories remained of when he had a family. “Naru-usagi, (Naru-bunny) pass me that casserole would you?”

Suddenly the whole table was quiet. Naruto had gone rigid, and then he glared at Sasuke and stood up. “Take it yourself, bastard.” Then he walked out stiffly without turning to look at the raven who was staring at him incredulously.

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A/N: Yeah I’ll stop this chappie here! I hope you guys know this isn’t going to be one of those cute stories…yes it will be cute, but it has its darker side, which you have been given a glimpse of. Please tell me what you thought of it. I know Sasuke is a bit ooc…but here his past is different, don’t worry he will revert to his bastard-side quite soon. So hope you enjoyed it! Review! Ja ne!

Taka

Itachi: Taka and I will be giving out containers of chilli…which I made to every reviewer. So please review. (Fall for my sexiness and listen to every word I say…)

Taka possessively grabs him and they run off into the wild…