Soup's On

Sasuke straightened his snug T-shirt as he took a swallow of cold water out of a long glass. He was sitting at his kitchen table. Naruto was very quietly doing the dishes in his (or technically Sasuke's) pajamas, politely abiding Sasuke's privacy. Sasuke had quite the task in front of him.

He had three minds to change. Where would he start? He decided to aim for the low hanging fruit first: Karin. She might not be the most decisive victory but perhaps the most probable. Convincing everyone else would be difficult on his own. Karin, as much as she idolized Sasuke, would probably be the first to listen to him.

"Sasuke?" Karin asked, sounding genuinely surprised. Sasuke was calling her?

"Hi, Karin."

"Uh… Is something wrong? I mean it's not like I'd only want you to call if something were wrong. I love it when you call me, or… At least I'd love it if you were to call me, like you are now. It's just that you don't usually…" Karin stammered, taking a deep breath and composing herself. She'd been waiting forever for this! She would not fuck this up! "So what's up?"

Most others would find the sound of a flustered and awkward Karin abnormal, as she normally exuded more than her fair share of confidence and assertiveness. However, it was relatively routine for Sasuke, who brought this side out of her often.

"I need to talk to you about something," Sasuke interrupted.

"What's that?"

"Your plans with Kabuto."

"Oh… Okay," Karin answered cooperatively.

Sasuke gave off an annoyed sigh before continuing, "Karin, what are you thinking?"

"C'mon, Sasuke. It's a simple plan. The house is even unlocked! We're just gonna take out some…"

"And you really think it will be that simple?"

"Well… I know there are some risks, but…"

Sasuke grit his teeth together, starting to wonder why he was even bothering with this. God, how could she be so stupid?

"Some risks? Listen to yourself."

Sasuke cast Naruto a very annoyed expression, needing to vent some steam. Naruto merely chuckled silently, rolling his eyes and whispering "hang in there."

"Well yeah…" Karin conceded. "But do you realize how much money we can get from it? Diamonds, Sasuke! He seriously has diamonds!"

"The higher the reward, the higher the consequences. They can even try you as a legal adult at your age."

"I… Yeah, I know," Karin sighed. "But…"

"Karin… I don't like hearing myself talk. So after I say my piece, I'm done with trying to convince you. If you have any sense whatsoever, you'll leave this bullshit behind."

Naruto inconspicuously listened in. He didn't think Sasuke would mind. Otherwise, he would've made the call elsewhere. It seemed that Sasuke was getting serious. He hoped that whatever Sasuke had to say next would serve its purpose.

"Alright. Let me hear it."

"Do you really think you can trust Kabuto? The same guy that drugged you? Look, I know more about him than you do, and I'm not going to risk my own skin telling you, but trust me when I say there's more to him than you realize."

"To be honest, Sasuke…" Karin paused, sighing. "I do have my reservations about the whole thing. I guess I just didn't want to admit it. You're right though, about Kabuto… I mean I like him alright, but I get the feeling that I don't really know him."

Sasuke paused, at least glad he was getting somewhere. It seemed to him that she had shouldered some doubt from the start. Maybe she just didn't want to get cold feet.

"So why are you doing this then?"

"It's just hard to say no when the payoff is so high. This is more money than we could probably make until our thirties. Well… At least all of us minus you."

Sasuke frowned before Karin continued.

"I can really see why you're not into this. You have way more to lose than the rest of us. In fact… Don't tell anyone else, but I'm kinda glad you're not coming. I like you as you are."

"You feel it would change me?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"Like it would change you?"

Karin was silent.

"I don't know. Maybe."

"And you're okay with that?"

Karin again was quiet. Perhaps she was thinking.

"I…can't just let Suigetsu do this alone. You know him. He's an idiot. I have to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Sasuke took another swallow of water. He realized how Karin regarded Suigetsu. As much as they put each other through, and as often as they disrespected each other, he knew that they cared for each other. Naturally, Karin would be very slow to admit this.

"Then we'll talk him out of it too," Sasuke stated authoritatively.

"Sasuke…" Karin responded through nervous laughter. "I mean it's all he's been talking to me about lately. He…"

"If you really admire me half as much as you always claim to, then you'll trust me."

Karin sighed. Sasuke had never asked anything of her before. Did she trust him?

"Okay, Sasuke. I trust you."

"Thank you."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke expectantly. He was trying not to be too invasive, but… Did that mean what he thought it did? Sasuke cast him a nod, and Naruto made about as much of a spectacle of himself in his celebration as he possibly could have without generating any sound.

"So, what about the other two?"

"You talk to Suigetsu. I'll talk to Juugo. If either of us get stuck, we'll regroup."

"Hey, hey…" Karin paused. "If I can do it, can we have a movie night?"

Sasuke paused, arching his brow. A movie night? Seriously?

"If all four of us veto this stupid thing, then yeah…" Sasuke sighed. Was this bribery? "We can have a movie night. I'll even bring Orville Redenbacher. None of that generic bullshit."

"Orville Redenbacher? You really are serious about this," Karin giggled.

"Dead."

"Good luck, Sasuke."

"Yeah… You too."

Sasuke hung up, and it took Naruto all of his impulse control not to immediately ask him what happened.

"It worked."

"Sweet," Naruto grinned.

"Next up's Juugo."

Naruto nodded. He knew that of all of Sasuke's friends, Sasuke was the closest to Juugo. The conversation that came next would probably be the most important to him.

"You got this, bastard."

Sasuke merely grunted, picking up his phone and dialing Juugo's number. He could have used speed dial, but dialing Juugo's number the old fashioned way had become a habit. Before the fire, they used to call each other several times a week over his parents' landline. Sasuke calling Juugo then would have been completely ordinary. But who did Sasuke call these days?

"Hey, Sasuke."

"Juugo… Let's meet up."

Juugo sighed.

"Okay, but if this is about…"

"Just once. I'm not asking much."

One of the things that Sasuke appreciated about Juugo was that he could be blunt with him. He didn't have to tip toe around the subject. But he suspected that tonight, he might need to do a little more finessing.

"Alright… Where?"

"Anywhere convenient."

"Sure. How about the Hillcrest playground?"

It was a comfortable enough walk from his house, though it was getting awfully cold. It was beginning to get dark, and it was windy out. On the bright side, any kids would have already gone home.

"Okay, I'll meet you."

"Nah, I'll pick you up. It's no trouble."

He wished he had his own car. He felt childish, needing to be picked up by his friends. Then again, it wasn't as though it was his fault.

"I'm good. I could use the walk."

The refusal was solely out of pride. Juugo seemed to realize this, chuckling quietly before answering, "We'll meet at the park in twenty?"

"Perfect."

Sasuke reached into his closet and pulled out his brother's coat. They were fortunately about the same size top, though Itachi's legs were longer than Sasuke's. This made winter weather and limited space less burdensome to both of them.

"I'm going to meet Juugo."

"Okay…" Naruto nodded. "Should I wait up for you, or should I make myself something to eat?"

"If you're hungry, eat now. There's no telling how long this will take."

Naruto smiled, but it looked strained. Was he concerned?

"Chill, it'll be fine."

"Hey! Who says I was worried?"

The sophomore rolled his eyes, grabbing his wallet, phone, and keys before walking towards the door.

"Your pants are undone."

Naruto looked down, his eyes widening as he realized that he'd forgotten to button his pants after attending to some…pressing business in the restroom earlier that day. Not that it mattered, he told himself. It was nothing Sasuke hadn't seen before anyway.

"You neglect to mention this until now because you like it!"

"Yeah, well keep your snake in its cage until I get home."

"Hey, next time…" Naruto turned, grinning at Sasuke triumphantly and pressing his thumb into his chest.

"I'm on top."

Sasuke opened the door, stepping out into the cold with a half grin on his face. Cute.

"Keep thinking that, dumbass."

"You ass! I-"

Naruto was yelling something when Sasuke shut the door. He imagined he'd get the heat from that one upon coming home, but he didn't really mind that.

Itachi's coat was warm. It protected him well against the elements. He'd thought up a few points he was going to make, but he knew that these sorts of things were difficult to plan. He didn't believe in cleaning up after people. This was Juugo's decision. The best he could do was try to push him in the right direction.

He was a little cold by the time he arrived. Sasuke was reminded of how short the days had become, as the sky was quickly turning dark. As predicted, the playground was isolated, other than the bulky build of a young man swaying slightly on the swings. Approaching, he could see the orange glow of Juugo's cigarette and streams of smoke and warm breath moving upwards in the night air. As Sasuke walked onto the woodchips, he heard the painful creaking of the swing set as it shouldered Juugo's weight. Juugo wasn't fat by a longshot. He was tall, muscular, and bulky. It made him a great candidate for football, but a very poor one for riding said swingset.

"Christ, Juugo, you're going to break that thing."

"Nah, it can hold me," Juugo answered with a smile. "If it could handle my aunt and uncle when they took my cousins here last year, it can handle anything."

"If this contraption falls on me, I'm blaming you."

Sasuke took a seat next to Juugo, the swing pressing his thighs together. It was comfortable enough for him, but he wondered how Juugo could stand it, as large as his frame was. Yet Juugo seemed to be relaxed enough. He offered Sasuke a cigarette, which Sasuke gladly accepted. It's not like it would do much to warm his body realistically, but the psychological effect of the burning tobacco was better than nothing. Sasuke lent Juugo's lighter for a few seconds, adeptly shielding it against the meddlesome wind as he lit his cigarette.

Sasuke pushed the tip of his Converse into the ground, gently swinging himself back and swinging forward. It had been a long time since he'd been in one of these things. It took him back to simpler times, which was odd considering the things he'd come here to discuss. Juugo swung forward several feet, while Sasuke's movements remained minute.

"Am I here for the reason I think I'm here?" Juugo asked patiently.

"I assume so."

"So… You're sitting this out? One hundred percent sure?"

"One hundred ten percent."

Juugo shook his head, exhaling in relief.

"Thank God."

He was relieved? Juugo was giving him the same reaction Karin had.

"I don't get that response. It's inconsistent."

"How so?"

"Why don't you want me to come?"

"You know that as well as I do. Otherwise you'd come."

Sasuke's movements stilled, and he glanced over at Juugo.

"I want to hear it from your mouth."

"Sasuke…" Juugo said nervously, taking a deep hit off of his cigarette. "It's different with you. You're a kid."

"Is this a coming of age rite or something? Turn eighteen and rob a house?" Sasuke asked sarcastically.

"It's not just that…"

Juugo frowned, holding smoke in his lungs before letting it quickly exit upwards.

"I'm not you. You have such a bright future ahead of you. You're a genius, literally. You'd be crazy to risk that! But me… I'd be lucky to see that much money in my whole life."

"You really have that little faith in your future, that you think shit like this is your best option?"

"Sasuke…"

Juugo stopped moving as well, staring off at the road in the distance, occasional cars passing by.

He leaned towards Sasuke, speaking quietly, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm dumb as a brick."

Sasuke let his cigarette dangle from his lips temporarily, thinking over his next words. He'd never heard Juugo talk about himself like that. And since when did Juugo care about grades? Did he even try? Sasuke thought his next words over. He'd never been skilled at reassuring people, however.

"Do you study?"

Juugo's eyes trailed off. He mumbled, "You practically never study, and somehow you get a 4.8 GPA."

"Mn…" Sasuke answered, taking a deep hit off of his cigarette. He liked to pretend he didn't care. Of course, he did. "I study a lot more than I let on."

Juugo smiled, slightly encouraged by the admission.

"You're a trip to watch, Sasuke. It's like no matter what shit happens to you, it doesn't slow you down. You just keep moving. You're always accomplishing something or another. It's really admirable."

Sasuke had always known that Juugo cared about him. He often felt the other watching over him, protecting him. He never had any definite proof. He just noticed Juugo's eyes flash over to him whenever he was in a questionable situation. When they were closer, before Sasuke lost his parents, Juugo felt like an older brother to him. He drove him around, let him bum his cigarettes, and listened to Sasuke's problems.

He wondered as to what Juugo's motivation was. Maybe he saw someone physically weaker, smaller, and much younger in need of protection. Maybe he just always wanted a little brother or something. Maybe because he had been there with Sasuke the day his house burned down, he felt even more emotionally attached to him now. Sasuke didn't realize that admiration worked into this, or at least not to this extent.

"And then…" Juugo smirked. "Then there's me. Someone who's never had real hardships and never amounted to anything special."

Sasuke smoked his cigarette wordlessly. He felt awkward hearing Juugo beat himself up like this, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Is that why you're doing this? You feel like it's the only way you'll ever achieve something out of the ordinary?"

Juugo shook his head, flicking his ashes into the woodchips.

"No, I'm not that hungry for glory. It's just… You know, my parents need taken care of, and I want to be able to support myself."

Juugo was an only child, and his parents had been in their forties when Juugo had been born. This did, however, leave some strain on Juugo.

"They're okay, right?"

"Yeah, they're fine. It's just… You know, my mom's past sixty, and my dad's nearly seventy. They're going to have to retire, and yeah… I don't think I could flip burgers fast enough," Juugo told Sasuke with a quiet and awkward laugh at the end.

"If this ever gets back to your parents, you do realize it will devastate them, right?"

"Don't say things like that…" Juugo answered, cringing.

"What makes you so convinced that menial labor is the only option for you, anyway? You're not a stupid person."

"You think that because I keep my mouth shut."

Sasuke frowned. Was Juugo really just doing all of this because he was discouraged?

"You say it's your intelligence, but have you even tried in school? Really tried?"

Juugo stared at Sasuke, taking a deep breath. It looked to Sasuke like he was holding his tongue. Juugo looked frustrated with Sasuke for the first time that night.

"Sasuke, the principal took me back into his office a few weeks ago. The only reason I've been passing my classes anyway is because I get the school's football team in the paper, and they don't want to drop me from the team."

Sasuke nodded, noting some stars announcing themselves in the sky. It was tough to decipher the constellations without his glasses, however.

Juugo added, "He told me I'm not going to graduate in June with my class. They're dropping me from the team too. They were almost just giving passing grades to me, but even then I can't get it. And the most pathetic part of it all? I am trying. I study for hours a day, and that's just to barely slip by with a D in the easiest English class I can take. The information just doesn't process."

The ashes from Sasuke's cigarette fell onto the ground, the boy too distracted to mind them. He didn't know that Juugo had gotten held back. And furthermore, Juugo actually cared about school? That was new information to him. He must have gone to lengths to hide his study habits, though Sasuke sometimes did the same with his own schoolwork. Sasuke knew that Juugo wasn't stupid, and he believed Juugo when he said he studied. He seemed almost ashamed of it. There had to be something wrong.

"Have they ever taken you in anywhere about it? It sounds like it might be a learning disability or something."

Juugo nodded, taking another inhale.

"When I was a kid, they said I was dyslexic. Then something called…dyscalculus or something like that? There was something else, but I honestly forget all they said. And my IQ really is lower. My mom had a really tough time conceiving. They thought she was infertile, and then me. But whatever caused her to have such a hard time, plus her age when she got pregnant… It probably messed me up or something."

"Ah..." Sasuke answered, now remembering that he had a cigarette as well. He wondered how accurate an IQ test could really be when the taker was dyslexic, but maybe they'd accounted for that. Sasuke didn't know much about learning disorders. And dyscalculus? What the hell was that? He took a deep hit, giving himself time to think. "Have you ever been treated for it?"

"They put me on some medication when I was younger, but I had a bad reaction, and it spooked my mom. So she pulled me out of treatment altogether and told me, 'We'll love you no matter what kind of grades you get.'"

Sasuke nodded slowly. All the times he'd complained about his parents pushing him too hard, Juugo had listened sympathetically. He'd told him to be grateful that they cared enough about his performance to nag in the first place, however. Sasuke had always been skeptical.

"I just wish she'd realized that even if she's satisfied with a kid who takes twenty minutes to read a page of Charlotte's Web, the world won't be. So I have to be creative if I want to come out ahead."

He hadn't seen his conversation with Juugo going like this. He knew that there had to be something he didn't realize. Still, for as long as he'd known Juugo, he was surprised he hadn't figured this out earlier. But now that he thought of it, he'd only seen Juugo read text messages, nothing else. Even those seemed difficult for him. And reading didn't seem to be his only issue in learning either.

"I shouldn't be complaining about my life, especially not to you. I'm not looking for pity. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"I just want you to understand why I'm doing this. I… I really do care about what you think…" Juugo admitted quietly, glancing away from the boy and slightly swaying to his side.

Their bodies had naturally angled towards each other over the course of the conversation, speaking quietly as if someone could overhear. It seemed that they were keeping secrets even from the crickets.

"You have another option then. Go back in treatment, when you have the resources. Your parents might help if you take initiative."

"I'm not sure about that."

"Your parents are always fussing about 'follow your heart', right?" Juugo had confided this in Sasuke, and how much the clichéd phrase would oftentimes annoy him, when they were closer. Sasuke still remembered. "If they realize that this is important to you, maybe they'll support it."

"Would it even work? I've been like this for so long. I'm probably too old to fix."

"It's worth a try. And you can't tell me all dyslexics and people with learning disorders have to become criminals to get by."

"It's not just that anyway…" Juugo trailed. "It's just… Hard to explain, it's like something I don't get is building up. I just feel like I need…to do something like this, something out there. I don't know why."

Sasuke nodded. He didn't know what most people would think upon hearing that, but watching Juugo, seeing the way his ordinarily calm hands fidgeted as he said this, he felt that he understood. It was that very same electric chaos that he had experienced over the past year, he believed. It was the need to rebel, to submit to your impulse, to do anything to make you feel alive and get rid of whatever uncomfortable angers and frustrations brewed inside of you. Sasuke wondered, momentarily, if some extent of this urge was a typical hallmark of adolescence. Of course, Sasuke's issues were in a class of their own, considering what had happened.

"I know what you mean."

"I thought you'd understand, if anyone."

"Yeah, I do."

Sasuke wouldn't expect Juugo to experience this sort of thing to the extent that it would incline him to do something so drastic. Then again, what about Juugo did he really know, when it came down to it? He'd assumed that he'd been the only one in their little group keeping secrets, except for Kabuto, obviously. Perhaps this had been egocentric of him. He took another deep inhale off of his cigarette, buying time.

"When you get that urge, and something pops into your head… It's a pretty good gauge of what not to do," Sasuke told him.

"It won't go away."

Sasuke cast Juugo a curious look. Should he be recommending counseling or something? He hated counseling. It had never helped him, but then again, Sasuke had been so close-lipped that it came as no surprise.

"Ignore it."

What else was there for him to say? He heard about people their age feeling this way all the time. They had to handle it somehow. It seemed pretty standard. With Sasuke, it had been different. But Juugo wasn't like him. He was just a normal high school senior.

"But…"

Juugo's brows were knit, and Sasuke glanced back at him inquisitively and a little flatly.

"Nothing…" Juugo finished, shaking his head.

"If you were someone else, what would you tell yourself to do?"

The redhead frowned, grabbing the chain opposite from Sasuke with his hand.

"I don't know. It's just that… I'm going to be graduating from high school when I'm almost twenty now… If I even graduate at all, that is."

Juugo rested his head in his hand, groaning.

"At this rate, I'm going to end up like Kabuto."

Sasuke stilled his movements, staring at Juugo for a moment. Juugo's eyes returned to Sasuke's, the young boy completely serious.

"Yes, you will. But it won't be because of your grades. It will be because of shit like this."

They were both silent, the atmosphere becoming heavy between them. The swing set whined, and it reminded Sasuke of the times he'd spent here as a child. They had both likely played on this swingset as children, as both of them were locally raised. They had been innocent, on these same swings years ago without a thought of these darker realities of life. Everything had been different. Sasuke remembered Itachi pushing him down the slide and his dad talking to business partners over his Bluetooth.

The memories stood in stark contrast to the current conversation matter. Drugs, thievery, a life of crime… Juugo likely had similar memories. He wondered if he also mused at how strange it was to contemplate such things in a place where they used to play as carefree children. They looked each other in the eyes, Sasuke's gaze strong and confident while Juugo's resolution began to waver. Sasuke could see it in Juugo's face. He was reconsidering.

"This isn't what you think it is. Kabuto… What's your understanding of how he makes his money?"

"He sells weed and pills around school, right? Shoplifts occasionally."

"It goes deeper than that."

"Ah…" Juugo answered knowingly, nodding. "That's what I've been suspecting."

"A lot deeper."

Juugo froze, turning over at Sasuke questioningly. He looked like he was about to ask Sasuke what he knew before the smaller male interrupted him.

"When I dropped out of selling, Kabuto threatened me. This is the same guy that drugged us with some shit we couldn't even come by if we tried. I know things you don't, Juugo. Something's very wrong here."

They heard laughter, from far away. A group of teens were approaching quickly, evidently unaware of their presence. The two students' silhouettes alone showed from the swingset, bodies inclined towards each other. The only illumination was offered by street lights and cigarettes. A young girl stumbled far too close.

"Oh, sorry guys. Didn't you know you were having a moment…"

Juugo quickly straightened his shirt, the two leaning away from each other instinctively.

"What do you mean by moment?" Juugo asked suspiciously.

"Oh…"

Finally, they were close enough to get a decent view of the two. Another boy stumbled up behind her.

"Holy shit, that's a guy?" He pointed to Sasuke. "We thought you guys were like…mackin' on each other or something!"

Even though they could only see his outline, how the hell could they have mistaken him for a female? He was tall, dammit! Though perhaps Sasuke was nothing compared to Juugo, both due to age and due to the fact that Juugo was just a hulk. The way they were leaned so close to each other, sharing two solitary swings… The group had been far away as well. He guessed it wasn't implausible. But still…

Juugo emitted a low chuckle, Sasuke glaring at the group with a scowl on his face.

"You kids are charming," Sasuke answered dryly, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

He just had to slip the word "kids" in there. They had to be about twelve or thirteen. And he was taller than them, dammit, and a hell of a lot stronger and better built. He would draw attention to this fact.

Regardless, the group of four occupied the remaining swings. Sasuke looked at Juugo with annoyance, their privacy now blown.

"The set's all yours," Juugo told them, getting up and walking towards his car. Sasuke joined him. The parking lot was a good distance, and it was also in the direction of Sasuke's house.

"I need some time to think, Sasuke," Juugo said in a hushed voice.

Sasuke hesitated. He was afraid that letting Juugo walk could amount to giving up on Juugo. However, he'd said his piece. This was Juugo's decision. He'd done all he could.

"Just be smart."

Juugo nodded as they neared his car. They both knew it was time to split up.

"Another cigarette for the road?" Juugo asked.

"No, I'm good."

Sasuke turned to walk off.

"Hey…" Juugo said, loudly enough to get Sasuke to turn around.

"Mn?"

Sasuke hoped, for a second, that this was Juugo's moment of realization.

"Don't tell anyone that I study, okay? It's embarrassing enough to fail when people think you're not even trying."

"Do you even have to ask?"

"No…" Juugo smiled. "I guess I don't."

There was never any need for formal goodbyes with them. They would just split up and be on their way, and both of them appreciated that. Sasuke replayed the conversation as he walked. Was there anything he should have said? They were cut short. It wasn't in his hands anymore.

However, he'd been walking only ten minutes when his cell phone rang. It was Juugo. Had he just gotten home?

"Juugo."

"It's bullshit."

"Hm?" Sasuke prompted. Was he getting his hopes up?

"You're right. It's all bullshit. Fuck it. I'm out."

Sasuke smirked, smiling lightly.

"Am I ever wrong?"

Juugo laughed for a moment.

"Well… You've always been the brains of the operation, Sasuke. I'm just the brawn."

Sasuke smiled, but he made no comment.

He'd convinced two out of his three friends to sit this crazy plan out. He was almost done now. He just hoped they'd be strong in their resolves. Kabuto had a way of reeling people back in.

"A fair word of warning: Kabuto's not going to like this. Stand your ground."

"I'll be ready for him," Juugo answered, sounding not the slightest bit frazzled.

With Juugo and Karin on his side now, and perhaps even Suigetsu, Sasuke knew he'd be ready too. They all would.