A bond thicker than blood

well guys, my time for departure to Hong Kong is drawing near. only have about 4 more days left at home.
which means this story is slowly coming to an end, i will try my best to finish the story before i leave
so please keep up the comments, now that i have my week off before i leave i have time to write more =)

LadyRonin: thank you for the stay puff marshmallow manfrom ghostbusters, i had him for breakfast, lunch and dinner. had to share him though with my friend he was just to much to eat alone ;OP
Yeah i though Haku would be a bit too obvious and since he ended up in Naruto's position when it came to be exposed i though he would be best to understand the situation and so on. when it comes to leadersama i have a good plan for his hit on Naruto. =)

XoXgaaraXoX: thank you for the comment =)

well don't forget to comment guys =)

enjoy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 34

In the meantime, Naruto was wandering back from the dojo owned by Kakashi –Sensei. Kakashi had inherited the dojo after his father, who surprisingly used to be part of the close family of Naruto’s father. Needless to say that Naruto was surprised when he saw Kakashi standing in the dojo welcoming him and Haku, but he guessed he already knew because he was not surprised to hear Naruto was a part of Sumiyoshi-kai. Haku on the other hand acted as he already knew the silver haired man, but they hardly spoke, just exchanged some few friendly words and smiles before Kakashi retired. Naruto had officially dropped out of university because his duties in the Sumiyoshi-kai and training took up most of his time, so it had been weird as well seeing Kakashi again.

Naruto sighed and looked at Momochi’s spare sword, after the run-in with Ino and Sasuke earlier he was not able to retrieve his own from the flat. His chest became heavy, making it difficult to breath, closely followed by a sharp pain. Naruto knew that once Sasuke found out he would hate him no matter what he said, but although he ha prepared himself for that, nothing really compared to reality.

Naruto had told himself that he would be able to forget the raven haired boy, just like everything else, but it proved to be more difficult than he liked. He loved Sasuke and even though he was able to suppress the memories when ever they appeared his heart would not allow him to forget. This made the vision of Ino and Sasuke together hurt more than he thought it would.

Haku, who was walking next to him, watching the blond boys facial expression change from the stone mask he always carried to a saddened, yet painful facial expression.

“Naruto-sama, everything okay?” he asked. Haku had promised his lover to keep an extra close eye on the boy. Naruto had closed himself up completely and never talked about anything except things related to Sumiyoshi-kai, the dark haired boy had often found the boy sitting on the windowsill Momochi would usually sit in gazing out on to the street with an empty look on his face, like there was nothing left for him in this world. So whenever he and Naruto were together, his eyes rarely left the blond.

The sound of Haku’s voice pulled Naruto back from his thoughts and Haku could see the blond’s facial expression change back to the stone mask.

“Huh? Oh yeah, just tired that’s all.” Naruto gave Haku one of his fake smiles he fooled so many with, God how much the dark haired boy hated those smiles. If he could he would have yelled at him, he was angry and disappointed each time Naruto thought he could pull off one of those smiles. But most of all he was angry at himself, maybe even hating himself, for not being able to help when Naruto needed it the most. ‘I hope you are right Momochi, because if Sasuke can’t save him he won’t last much longer.’

“Well you should eat something other than just ramen; it’s not good eating the same thing day in and day out.” Haku said brushing off the smile the blond had given him; it was neither the time nor the place to argue.

“But I like ramen and the instant stuff is so easy to make, 30 seconds in the microwave with some water and it’s all done” Naruto sounded almost like his old self and Haku could not help but smile, that boy really should have a crash course in how to prepare nutritious food fast and easy, if there was such a course.

“Naruto?” Their small moment of joy was interrupted by a voice Naruto recognised.

“Neji, what are you doing here?” Naruto asked when he had turned around, facing the long haired boy.

“You know him Naruto-sama” Haku half whispered, when he leaned closer to the blond’s ear. Naruto nodded and told him he would meet him at home. Haku gave him a concerned look but the blond boy only smiled. The black haired boy only sighed knowing he would not win the argument if he were to start one with Naruto and left the two boy to themselves but not before giving Naruto a ‘please be careful’ look.

Naruto watched as Neji came closer to him. Naruto had changed he though, he was much thinner then he was when they had first met and his face looked tired as if he had been working 24/7.

“Are you okay?” Neji asked, he was worried for the blond. Naruto had not shown up for any of his classes or been home in his flat. “Why haven’t you been to classes? I’ve been so worried.”

“Ah Sorry” Naruto felt a wee bit guilty for making his friend worry, even more so because it reminded him that he still had not contacted Sakura. “Didn’t mean to worry you.” Naruto looked down at the ground before continuing.

“I am not coming back to classes, I … I have officially dropped out”

“WHAT?!? WHY?” Neji shouted, looking at the blond boy in confusion.

“There is something I need to do …” Naruto broke off, not to sure if he should tell Neji about his family. Neji could see something was bothering Naruto and he wanted to know what it was, had it something to do with Sasuke?

“What do you need to do?” he asked Naruto gently. Naruto sighed; he had really hoped he would not ask that question. In reality he’d hoped that he wouldn’t meet any of his friends until he was done with the challenge. Neji could see the sadness appearing in Naruto’s eyes. “Did Sasuke do something to you?” he grabbed the blond’s arm trying to search for an answer.

“No, it’s okay Neji.” Naruto tried to get out of Neji’s grip but his muscles were too tired from training to pull away. But the long haired boy could tell everything was not right with the two, if things had been Sasuke would be around would he not?

“Naruto!” Neji could not hold back any longer, it pained him to see the blond boy in the state he was in. He released his grip around Naruto’s arms and hugged the boy tightly, something which surprised Naruto.

“Why can’t I be the one that warms your heart? Am I not good enough?” Neji whispered in the blond’s ear. Those words shocked Naruto and in the daze he did not notice that Neji had moved his face only inches from his own before it was to late, the long haired boy kissed him.

Unknown to both of them Sasuke had turned the corner and was standing a couple of hundred meters away from them witnessing the kiss. For seconds he could not move, Neji was kissing his boyfriend. Sasuke could feel the anger build up in him, although he probably had no right to be angry he could not stop his anger and he began walking fast towards the two kissing boys.

“Stop it Neji” Naruto regained his strength for a second and pushed the boy away and his left hand automatically covered his mouth which had been kissed. Neji gave Naruto a disappointed look, somewhere deep down he had hoped that the blond boy would respond even if it was just a little. “I guess not”

“Neji you bastard, get your hands off him.” Sasuke yelled as his fast walk had turned to running. When Sasuke was close enough he grabbed Naruto’s arm and pull him behind him, and gave Neji a glare.

“Sasuke?” Naruto could not believe what he was seeing, what was he doing here?

“What?” Neji was not afraid of the glare, he had given Sasuke a fair warning that this would happen if Sasuke had hurt the blond. “I told you didn’t I, if you leave Naruto I would be the one picking up the pieces.”

Naruto looked at the two boys as they were arguing over him as if he was some sort of thing they could own.

“Piss off Neji, he doesn’t want you” Sasuke snapped at the boy in front of him.

“How do you know that? You obviously have some issues to deal with before you can tell what Naruto wants or not.” Neji spat back.

“What did you say …” Sasuke was about to punch him when Naruto pulled himself out of his grip.

“Both of you stop it” he shouted, the two boys looked at the blond who had regained his confident. He looked into Sasukes eyes asking silently what he was doing here.

“Naruto” Neji said gently taking a step closer, but Sasuke grabbed a hold of his arm stopping him in his tracks.

“Sasuke what are you doing here?” The pain of seeing Sasuke again was becoming too much for Naruto, the pain in his chest prevented him from breathing properly.

“I …” Sasuke could not answer; he could clearly see the pain he was causing the blond just by being near.

“Neji, please it is too dangerous for you to be around me.” Naruto said shifting his gaze towards the long haired boy, Neji was confused. What did he mean too dangerous? “I guess it’s only a matter of time before everybody finds out.” Naruto sighed “Neji … I …” the blond boy could not find the words that would explain everything.

“He is a Yakuza” Sasuke said not letting his eyes leave Naruto’s face.

“What?” Neji was shocked but for some reason he could not believe Sasuke’s words, he thought it was a lie the raven haired boy told him in order for him to loose interest in Naruto. “Don’t screw around Sasuke” He spat.

“He isn’t” Naruto quickly said, his eyes were still fixed on Neji. The long haired boy could not believe what he was hearing, was the blond really part of the Yakuza? He was a criminal? How? Why? Neji had so many questions.

“ …” Neji tried to say something but words would not come out; he just kept on staring at the blond boy holding the sword in his right hand. His posture had changed and all of a sudden he could see that Sasuke was not lying, the once cute and shy boy had turned into something completely opposite.

“That’s why I am asking you two to leave” Naruto broke the silence.

“I don’t care” Neji shouted, the truth is he did care but some one had told him once that love conquers all. And if Naruto could accept him as his lover, he would accept Naruto for all that he was a Yakuza or not. “Yakuza is not what makes you who you are, Naruto is Naruto.” Neji paused looking for a reaction in Narutos face.

“I am not a coward, I will not leave.” Neji looked Naruto straight in the eye, hoping he had hit the nail on the head when it came to the trouble between him and Sasuke.

“Neji … ” Naruto could not help but smile a little “… Thank you. But still I’m sorry, I can’t give you what doesn’t belong to me” Naruto looked back at Sasuke, even if it did hurt he had given his heart to Sasuke and he was not going to ask him to give it back, at least not yet.

“I see …” Neji was defeated, Naruto could not love him and Neji knew why, Sasuke. The two boys had a strong bond that he would never be able to break, no matter how much he tried.

“But don’t forget … I love you” Neji turned around and began to walk away.

Sasuke walked up to Naruto slowly, he was afraid that if he walked too fast he would scare the blond.

“Naruto?”

The blond boy was not sure what to do, he craved for Sasukes touch and yet he did not want it, in case it was all just out of pity.

“Please don’t come any closer” Naruto began backing away. Sasuke on the other hand was not going to listen, he had to tell Naruto exactly how he felt or else he would lose the blond boy completely. The Raven haired boy grabbed a hold of Naruto and pulled him close, Naruto tried his hardest to push the boy away but Sasuke was too strong.

“Please Naruto; I need to tell you this.” Sasuke squeezed harder “I’m sorry, Neji is right I am a coward. I just didn’t know what to do, but when I thought about it I really don’t care. Neji is right Naruto is Naruto; I fell in love with you because you are you, even if you are Yakuza. Because it does not mean you are the same as your uncle, I’m so sorry I should have realised this sooner. I’m so sorry …” he squeezed harder again “…I’m sorry … I …” Sasuke cursed himself a little for not being able to express himself better and he could not form the words he wanted to say. It was now or never.

“I love you!”