The Restricted Section

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


The Restricted Section
By 11


Chapter 03

In the morning traffic at the store is pretty low, maybe a few stragglers but only one or two who browse through and leave quickly. So Naruto expected to have a comfortable and boring time at the desk where he could read in quiet. Hinata and her friends had told him Sasuke might come by again today, however by this time it had almost entirely slipped his mind.

A loud banging at the back told the blonde that his boss had arrived again, and judging from the cursing and thudding against the walls with what was no doubt a heavy box of new porn material; this meant stocking the shelves time. Joy.

Even coffee shop employees didn’t have to stock shelves; which meant going down into the dusty dingy storage area below the store! The only real reason Jiraiya had for restricting the selection was that he himself had yet to view the material and until he did he could not approve or recommend it to customers. The sad truth was he just liked to watch everything before he had to give it to others to rent from him and thus enjoy some new erotic technique he had not yet enjoyed himself.

It was perhaps for this reason that Jiraiya was a sad grouchy old man with no feeling and horrible taste in music. This said bad taste in music was what played as customers browse and in fact all day long, a track of mostly old music that Jiraiya himself picked. This meant it was outdated and left a bad aftertaste within a listener’s mind; like going into a fancy looking restaurant and being served dog poo as the main course. Utterly lovely; why did Naruto work here again?

Oh yeah, the pay was good, so were the hours, and he could rent porn of his own for the fraction of the price that customers did. That and he really didn’t fancy the idea of working for Tsunade instead; she might have given him a job, but between carnal pleasures of culinary and physical value; bodily needs won out. This was a special set-back since Naruto had not yet found a girl to stay with him. Plenty of one-nighters to be sure, but in the morning they were strangers again and the idea of one nice cuddle bunny was actually starting to appeal.

Now when this thought first occurred to the blonde all hell broke loose. What was he thinking, he was too young to be thinking of finding just one steady person! That’s what girls do! But maybe he had used up all his one-girl-to-the-next days in high school; he had gone out with many ever since he had learned how incredibly easy it was to get along with someone. The trick to it? Just start talking; movies, food, occupation, even the weather was a great place to start.

If one still doesn’t respond just point it out to them and maybe be a bit sarcastic about how much of a social butterfly they might be. Of course this can have two effects, one is that they will become your friend and it will be like you’ve known each other since the first grade. The other possibility is that they will decide to become your sworn enemy. Naruto had found this side effect a few times, but thankfully not too often; at least none came after him seeking blood revenge so that was good.

“Damn it Naruto! Help me with these boxes!” Oh there was the irritated order from his boss now. The blonde obediently got to his feet and took the boxes from the older man, who shirked the bulk - that means all - of the dastardly object into Naruto’s capable hands. Gee thanks ya geezer!

“You know where they go.”

“Would that be the incinerator, the garbage, or my car?” Naruto asked in a sincere voice, earning him a glare from his employer.

“No, it goes in the restricted section, the basement, you cheeky little turd, now get to it!” Jiraiya growled at the blonde effectively driving him out of the office area. “Kids these days, no respect for anything…” the man grumbled to himself turning back to his office.

The sound of the entrance bell dinging lightly with the movement of opening earned a growl from the man who turned back toward the front, half suspecting Naruto to be walking out with the new box of materials. It was a customer.

He barked a greeting and invitation to browse before retreating back to his office. Either Naruto would be back by the time the guy was done. Or else he’d have to give a yell so Jiraiya would have to play cashier. Hopefully Naruto wouldn’t spend that much time stacking and come right back, so Jiraiya wouldn’t have to leave his office just yet.

The said customer’s dark eyes scanned the store briefly, it was early enough there weren’t any other browsers, and Jiraiya was in the office. Perhaps Naruto wasn’t here yet; that would be very sad. Sasuke frowned slightly, but nonetheless returned the disks he had rented, dropping them in the return box at the front. The films weren’t awful, but he’d watched them and there were better ones.

Passing by the back rows Sasuke glanced at the restriction sign still hanging over the basement. It worked once; and the old guy wouldn’t notice if he went down and came back up. He was too lazy. Stepping over the sign as he had done before he descended the narrow stairs to the basement of the store. The harsh sound of thick volumes being stored into a case reached him, and Sasuke grinned slightly. No doubt it was his blonde quarry. Oh happy day, sometimes these things were just too simple.

Yes, there he was, with a full box busily shoving the disk cases onto the wooden rack, bending each time allowing a beautiful view of the youth’s backside. Idly Sasuke tossed his head, to draw his hair out of his eyes, the movement caught the other’s attention and the dark-haired boy received a reproachful stare.

“You’re not allowed down here,” Naruto stated idly, turning back to his task, “We’ve been over this, read the sign – can you read? Obviously not – it’s restricted.”

“I can read, but if it’s restricted I am compelled to go against that rule just for the sake of it.” Sasuke grinned.

The blonde shook his head but did not pause to prolong the conversation. Well that was okay, Sasuke didn’t mind being the first to act. He couldn’t have someone instantly willing all the time. It’d just take some time; he’d come around.

Naruto didn’t notice when Sasuke closed the distance between them, to stand directly behind him. However, he did notice when a pale arm slid around his waist, pulling his body a short ways to mesh against Sasuke’s.

A cool breath ghosted over his neck sending a shiver down his spine. The touch of a soft wet muscle against his neck was quick as it slid from his collar easily past his jugular and latched at his earlobe, drawing the soft fleshy bit into a warm damp cavern, the skin worrying between pearly teeth.

It felt vaguely like brain freeze, and for a time it didn’t seem like it was happening. Naruto was entirely detached from what was happening to him. It then struck with vivid clarity as heat rushed into his face and traveled directly from the warm body against his back, the wet heat at his ear, and the heated hand teasing the edge of his shirt upward. That same heat channeled to the rest of his body before pooling with particular intensity in a place it should not have gone.

Naruto jerked and turned in Sasuke’s grasp, moving to the other side of the box, retrieving the last volumes and sliding them onto the shelf with the others. Thank goodness it was over. Turning back to Sasuke he pouted slightly “Dude, you can’t do that. We’re not even dating!” he teased before picking up the empty box and heading upstairs.

“Then go out with me.” Sasuke suggested.

“Yeah right!” Naruto grinned back. Geez, those guys weren’t kidding this guy doesn’t take ‘no’. Wonder just how hardheaded he could be, this was getting kind of awkward, and awkward for Naruto meant the world was coming to an end. The only times things got awkward was when some random guy pulls a switchblade on him and demands to be bought a soda. No honestly that had happened once, and Naruto had since managed to avoid ‘awkward’ situations such as that. Actually come to think of it this could very possibly rank above that previous experience.

Yeah the world was ending. Armageddon now is nigh!

“Why not?” Sasuke puzzled as he trailed behind Naruto as the blonde started back up the stairs. Naruto purposely holding the box at his back, throwing it over his shoulder, strategically to put some default distance between Sasuke and his backside.

“Sorry, I know I’m gorgeous that no one can resist me,” Naruto started almost sarcastically as he continued to the desk and sat the box down, the front counter now the divider between himself and his persistent dark-haired stalker. “But I’m just not into guys. Sorry man.”

“Never even been curious?” Sasuke asked skeptically, arching a thin dark brow at his quarry. Around here Naruto wondered if he should taper off, or keep insisting no… after all the sooner he was ‘with’ Sasuke the sooner he could get through the horrible period he would have to ‘be’ with him and then the sooner he would be rid of him.

Sasuke seemed to take his hesitation for a yes. The somewhat troubled pondering gracing the blonde’s features, his lower lips protruding slightly in his contemplation, the faintest tinge of embarrassment gracing his whiskered cheeks. Before Naruto had time to respond accordingly Sasuke had taken full advantage of the opportunity presented to him.

Their lips were touching first, lightly just so the softness of lips against one another could be felt, a comfortable mesh of heat. Sasuke was entirely confident in his ability, he was very good at getting people, he had yet in fact to be truly rejected. Sometimes took more time than others that was true but what he wanted was always had. His lips moved slightly against Naruto’s, nipping the softness to provoke a reaction.

A slight hiss and gasp escaped the blonde and he almost moved away, but Sasuke followed him with his mouth, his tongue tracing lightly over his lower lip before sinking in and sealing the two of them together again. One hand rose to capture the back of Naruto’s neck to keep him from retreating further.

There had been hesitation, that meant even if he was straight he was curious; it was not a hopeless cause. Sasuke could win him. He had just enough skill to interest him, if he was curious, which Sasuke confirmed he was, this was the final motion. Beyond that a bit more badgering, if he had to, and Naruto would be his, he was sure.

Sasuke’s tongue moved against Naruto’s coaxing it to action; and a short moan escaped the blonde before he tried again to jerk away. Sasuke did not permit the blonde to free himself, but afterwards drew away himself, still holding Naruto’s face a short ways away from his own; admiring the flush that had quite reasonably devoured the majority of the youth’s cheeks and face.

He really wasn’t beautiful; although that was among the first thoughts Sasuke had to describe him. Beautiful had a connotation of delicacy and fragility and fleeting existence. Naruto was handsome, in a way, but then there was a kind of beauty, a roughness. Undeniably attractive would have to work until the paler of the two could consult a dictionary.

Truthfully he was busy thinking of all the better ways for that cute blush to have crossed Naruto’s whiskered cheeks. Namely with the blonde laying on his back on a bed, shirtless, Sasuke leaning over him… well there’d be time enough for that later Sasuke was sure.

Naruto slowly, drew away from Sasuke’s hand, backing against the opposite counter, as far from Sasuke as the clerk’s desk area would allow. Still watching the dark-haired youth warily. Sure he’d been warned that this guy would be forward… but he wouldn’t have thought he’d be this bold! He was going to have to get Shikamaru to give him another raise; he wasn’t even dating the guy yet and already this jerk had stuck his tongue down his throat. Must not start cursing inexorably… or vomiting.

“So…” Naruto said, eyes falling to the floor, a hand running through his hair, preparing to deal with this strange problem as he did any uncertainty that arose, by pretending it never happened. Worked quite well too considering if he refused to think about it the rest of the day it effectively was put into old not immediately thought about memory. Like all those other annoying subjects that only need to be known when the time arises thus you don’t have to think about it all day or even an hour, like math!

“Anything new to check out today, returns, or did you just stop by for me?” Naruto asked, flush gone and customary grin back in place. Sasuke had to marvel at the instantaneous recovery. He might have to pressure him a bit more later; but he felt pretty satisfied with himself for today. At the least he had Naruto ruffled, obviously he was interested; that was good enough for right now. If he had tried to resolve it right there Sasuke would have been forced to take drastic measures.

Drastic measures included dragging the blonde into the dark office behind him, or back down to the restricted section and taking him against a shelf of dvds. He’d actually done that a few times too; he had his fun, and his partner never complained. Heck once or twice the guys came back to ask if he’d do them again. He’d accepted for the really hot guy, after that he refused.

He never did it again for the hot guy and received a couple hate letters and one saying that the guy was gonna commit suicide and it was Sasuke’s fault. But really it wasn’t. If that guy was such a loser, then even if Sasuke did or didn’t do him, the guy would go kill himself, so Sasuke had nothing to do with it. The guy was the one killing himself, not Sasuke. Sasuke was perfect after all.

Frankly he was glad he didn’t have to resort to that kind of tactic with Naruto.

“Just returning those, and checking out these,” he shrugged, handing back the dvd’s he’d gotten yesterday and handing over two new films he’d plucked off the shelf just shortly before.

Naruto went through the cashier pretty quickly, to rent out the new videos before handing the new bag and films to Sasuke. Customary grin never faltering. Sasuke brushed his fingers against Naruto’s as he took the bag, and the blonde started at the contact. Again he leaned in closer, and Naruto backed his head away slightly, his hand already at arms length and held still by Sasuke’s own hand at the bag.

Their lips came very close, ghosting slightly near to one another but Sasuke pulled away; the slight flush was back in Naruto’s face, and he looked vaguely bewildered at Sasuke’s actions. He smiled back at him in some sympathy for the confusion. “Thanks,” he said heading for the door, “See you, Naruto.”

He practically purred out the name in his soft baritone, and was pleased to note that the youth’s flush deepened slightly. He grinned, smirked really, as he walked away and out of sight. He felt very satisfied with himself.

The second the door shut behind Sasuke and he was out of sight of the glass windows, Naruto turned to his side by the trashcan and attempted to wretch into the bin. It didn’t work, but he did shudder letting loose a short sound of disgust. He scrubbed his mouth with the back of his hand, scowling at the wall in irritation; at the world in general for the moment.

Momentarily he wished he had never taken that offer, but then this probably would have happened anyway, this way he had a bit of warning in any case. But then if he hadn’t made the deal, maybe he could have resolved it then and there. He was simply straight. Sasuke didn’t have a chance and he could have tried to make him understand that. Then maybe this whole thing would be solved and he’d never have to be near that guy again.

Naruto stopped scrubbing his mouth with his hand, resolving to wash his face and mouth out later. Idly he sniffed his breath and frowned when he noted it smelled vaguely like Sasuke.

Great, now he probably tasted like that Uchiha bastard… great, just great.

`

It was the afternoon. Sasuke was hungry. A hungry Sasuke is not a good thing, mainly because he looks vaguely like a zombie, albeit hot zombie at that, and a walking corpse. Oddly enough this does absolutely nothing to damage his sex appeal.

Black leather on a corpse, what typical romanticized vampires wear; chains with black vinyl, it just looks good. Sasuke is no exception when he looks like the walking dead. Although Tsunade does manage to see some resemblance between the youth and some freakish friend of hers, from way back when. ‘Who’, ‘what’, and ‘WTF?!’, are questions she refuses to answer about this comparison.

“Can I get a malt yet?” Sasuke asks, glancing up at the bodacious blonde woman from his slumped position of burying his head in his arms. An impression of a starving individual lacking meat of bones. Hazel eyes sent him an irritated look. “Come on Tsunade! I’ve been mourning my last love for a whole day! Give me a burger already!”

The woman shakes her head in defeat, and relents to serving the dark-haired youth his ordered meal of malt and burger, which he gratefully dives into consumption of fatty substances. “Fine, Sasuke. You just better not be up to your usual antics though.”

By antics, everyone in the universe should know that Sasuke has been hunting some new victim to give a similar fate he saw fit to bestow on that delightful girl Sakura just a week ago. It is after all his horrible and seemingly incurable habit that has led to this and as such Tsunade, as the missing and unimposing mother figure of all those younger than her, disapproves greatly of Sasuke’s ‘antics’.

“I’m not,” Sasuke assured between bites of burger, “Don’t worry so much, hag.” He grumbles this last bit before taking a long swig of the malt.

“So you’re in a good mood again,” a certain blonde girl remarks as she slides into the seat next to him with a dark-haired girl of short hair at her side. A brunette slides to sit on his other side as well. Oh look it’s the happy brigade of people he calls friends and will occasionally hang out with, given that it doesn’t cramp his style. Hey guys!

“Found a new victim I suppose?” Temari asked offhandedly.

“Huh?” Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her in mock confusion. “Oh that, nah. I’ve given up on that. Not as much fun as it used to be.”

“Hm?” Temari cocked her head to the side, was he being sarcastic? Or not… it was so hard to tell with Sasuke. He sounded mocking almost all the time so it was difficult to tell what he was actually saying, and even harder to try and figure what he was thinking. Hence she had long ago come to the conclusion that Sasuke was incurably insane, just as he was incurably flirtatious. “Yeah right.”

“Well I’m not dating anyone right now anyway,” Sasuke offered as a better form of answer as he sipped idly at his malt.

“But you will be?” Hinata asked politely.

“Oh you know me, I never stay available for too long,” Sasuke shrugged, shifting his eyes to the brunette boy on his other side, “Unless Shikamaru wants to date me?”

“No thanks,” Shika said immediately backing slightly away from the dark-eyed youth, “I don’t do narcissists, too much trouble.”

Sasuke smirked slightly, “Actually I do have someone in mind right now.”

“Boy or girl?” Temari asked offhand.

“Boy,” Sasuke answered, as if it were entirely obvious, “I was just with a girl.”

“Oh what, the guy at the bike shop? Or the guy at the taco stand?” the blonde female continued with her interview born of curiosity.

“Neither,” Sasuke arched his eyebrow at her, “Wow, Temari, you’re really off today. He works at the porn store.”

“Porn store?” Hinata repeating, blushing delicately, and covering her mouth with some sense of covering what might be socially incorrect or unpleasant.

“Figures,” Temari scoffed, “That’s Sasuke.”

“Heh.” Shikamaru seemed to find this rather amusing as well. “And given you’re not dating him yet he’s probably straight, right?”

“Give me another day,” Sasuke said, “the guy’s already warming up to me.”

Yeah, sure. Temari dearly wished to roll her eyes. But oddly enough from the sounds of things, their evil little plan was succeeding! Oh how brilliant! Whoever came up with this hair-brained scheme, Temari completely took back that it was insane and impossible.

“Well, good luck with that.” The girl said excusing herself from the counter. Sasuke finished his meal relatively soon after before also excusing himself.

“Where are you going now?” Hinata asked curiously.

“I need to research when that guy gets off work.” He answered simply.

“So you can stalk him?” Shikamaru added in question. Sasuke would have glared at the brunette, except that his stare seemed to lack its usual malice. For some reason his full stomach left him unable to use his old death-glare on command. Oh well it’d come back in an hour.

“Something like that.” Sasuke opted to sneer, when the glare just wouldn’t pull through. Then he sauntered easily out the door. Shikamaru shook his head, but couldn’t repress a small smile. Hinata herself seemed vaguely happy.

Our evil plan is working!!

`

“I said get out, I’m closing today; don’t you have classes!?” Jiraiya yelled as he attempted to push the blonde out of his store.

“Only Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Monday mornings!” Naruto informed the old man loudly, in case he didn’t hear him the first thousand times. “Come on, I can help you close up today!”

“I didn’t hire you to help me close up on Wednesdays!” Jiraiya quipped back at him, “Only Mondays and Fridays!”

“Fine! Hope you break your back and cough up your lung and kidney,” Naruto relented. “The only reason you’re closing this early is to view the new shipments.”

“Cheeky brat!” the old man glowered at him. “I’ll have you know you’d be doing the same thing if you could! But you don’t own this shop now do you?”

“No sir. But if you’re inviting me to help you view I wouldn’t mind at all,” Naruto grinned brightly, “Besides if you get a heart attack half way through the film then you’d have someone to call the hospital for you.”

“Bastard my heart’s in better condition than yours.” The old man scoffed.

“What are you talking about?” Naruto asked puzzled.

“You know what I’m talking about, that girl you always talk about,” the old man waved his hand. Naruto frowned slightly, wishing that hadn’t been brought up, but then again he was probably drawing this out longer than needed to say Bye Boss. “Besides that you always have after five off.”

“Yeah. I guess I should be glad that I don’t have a total slave driver to work for,” Naruto grinned, the old man returning the friendly gesture, “See you tomorrow old man!”

“See you then brat!” he called back before retreating back inside the store, locking the front door and flipping the sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed’.

Despite the fact that it was five fifteen, the sun was still up fairly high; enough so that reading would be possible. Naruto stopped by at his car to pick up the paperback book in the passenger seat before heading across the way to the city-park, a street and block over. There were actually quite a few green patches near the university; and clean benches.

Yes, a clean bench, not wrought with bird poo or other unsightly blemishes to stain a good pair of jeans for ever. It was on one of these comfortable benches that Naruto chose to sit and open the paperback. He would probably only be there to read for an hour before heading back, fixing some dinner and going to bed. He had already done his homework for tomorrow so he’d be prepared for classes, so now was a good reading time. The sun was still up so it was pretty warm out with a comfortable breeze drifting through the trees, great day to be outside.

With the feel of the sun and the smell of trees and grass from the surrounding park, he could easily block out the sound of other people milling around with children and friends. Then slip into the setting within the book – which was also a sunny spot with grass and trees! It’s where bunnies live you know… and this book was about bunnies, but not just any bunnies… political and fighting and awesome crafty bunnies… and the warren living the den of death littered with bones. The group would have to escape soon.

There were no words to announce the one who abruptly pulled him unceremoniously from the storybook world and back to the bench where the person rested their arms on his shoulders, his head somewhere above him. Naruto jerked and turned out from the person’s touch to look at who it was, he was pretty sure he didn’t have any friends who could be that friendly with him without announcing themselves first!

“Sasuke!” Naruto voiced in surprise, trying not to let his dismay slip through entirely. What on earth was he doing here disrupting Naruto’s peace, “Woah, what are you some kind of stalker?”

“Of course not,” Sasuke said, mock offended, “I just so happened to be passing through the park and saw you sitting here.” He was probably being honest too, didn’t make the encounter any less execrable.

“Oh that’s nice.” Naruto noted managing a grin, before standing up, and marking his place in the book. He’d have to finish it at home now; thanks to this unpleasant turn of events; he’d already had him encounter of the day with this guy; he didn’t need another.

“What book?” Sasuke asked innocently enough. Thankfully within public view the guy wasn’t hitting on him right and left, it could be bearable this way.

“Oh, Watership Down,” Naruto said showing him the cover, “killer bunnies, very interesting.” More than that it was freaking awesome! The characters, bunnies, were so in depth it was like animal farm but better and more adventurous, a bold and brilliant story in all respects, he’d read it once in high school; but rereading old books was always fun.

“Really killer bunnies?” Sasuke asked somewhat surprised, “Like Monty Python where the bunnies eat people or something?”

“Kinda… there’s a part where they chase a cat away from it’s farm,” Naruto remembered the first endeavor as far as actual bunny violence, though unquestionably the best was when it got to the other warren’s infiltration. “You’d have to read it.”

“Guess I’ll have to.” Sasuke shrugged, since Naruto wasn’t going to give him an immediate summary of the story, “Are you hungry?”

Say “Huh?”

“Are you hungry?” Sasuke restated in response to Naruto’s so intelligent and collected question, interpreted as ‘come again?’ The dark-haired youth suggested, “We could go get lunch.”

“… Like a date?” the blonde suddenly looked wary. Maybe he couldn’t be too sure about public places. Gee would it look so bad if he ran? He wouldn’t be followed right? Was it worth it? Probably…

“If you want to think of it like that,” Sasuke smirked, but then seeing the uncertainty in the blonde added, “Or it could just be getting lunch.”

Well Naruto didn’t bolt, for a moment it looked like he would. Naruto snorted, “Sorry, I’m not interested in a date.” He told him all too sincerely before he started to turn away from the paler youth.

“You can’t escape me.”

Hm? Naruto looked back at that, a bit disturbed realizing that Sasuke had spoken a bit louder than he needed to; and now several people were directing their attention towards them. “Why are you suddenly being so loud?” Naruto hissed, attempting to keep his voice low enough that only he and Sasuke could hear this time.

“Naruto Uzumaki, who currently works at Icha Icha Paradise Adult Store, and claims not to be gay,” Naruto felt himself flush horribly, oh god this guy was nuts or freaking determined to the point of psychotic! “Go out with me.” Sasuke wasn’t asking, it was an order… and while Naruto gaped everyone else seemed to do so as well, a few looks shifting from Naruto to Sasuke and back again and sometimes in reverse.

Ugh. This guy wasn’t even embarrassed at all. Man those guys weren’t kidding; this guy… just keeps plowing ahead with no regard for consequences, tact, or shame! This was getting bad, he had to do something or this would just keep getting more awkward. Maybe it was time.

Naruto gave a short laugh and shook his head, partly to clear his own embarrassment and partly to disassociate the crowd from the situation. “Well Sasuke, you’re one persistent bastard,” he couldn’t help it if the blush didn’t fade completely by the time he met the paler youth’s obsidian gaze, “Okay, I’ll go out with you.”

Sasuke’s smirk grew wider. Within his mind he already knew; he had won.

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