LOVE WEDGE

The wheel of the black limo stopped in front of an old apartment building with some damages here and there. It was too obvious that it wasn’t a good apartment and of course it was not located in one hell of a good environment either. But that was good enough for Naruto. He didn’t really expect or dream to live in a huge mansion or at least some cozy apartment, he wasn’t that type of man to begin with. This was more than enough for him. Besides he could manage his place well, so it wasn’t really a bother.

Kakashi got out of the driver seat and walked toward his superior and opened the car’s door. He wasn’t a chauffer; he has way higher position than that. But he was reliable. Indeed he was. He was capable of doing many things, that’s why he became Sasuke’s most trusted man. Kakashi was Sasuke’s personal mentor when he was a kid. He still remembered clearly when Itachi first introduced him to Sasuke. He knew exactly at that very moment that the boy was exceptionally different. He has ambitions written all over his eyes even at the age when most boys like him should be dreaming about Play Station and X-Box. He was the one who taught Sasuke what kind of words to say, what kind of things to do, what kind of decisions he should make in the risky business world, and of course how to deal with them all at once. In other words, he was the one who shaped Sasuke. When Sasuke was still an apprentice, Kakashi was his advisor. That was the time when Kakashi knew that Sasuke was capable of doing things beyond his wildest imagination to get things that he wanted. He was just that kind of man. Now that Sasuke was already mature in the business world Kakashi had become his right-hand. Spending so many years with the Uchiha protégé of course has contributed enough amount of information about him. Kakashi couldn’t say that this Uchiha is not dangerous, in fact he would rather say that this man was peculiarly dangerous. There was always a sense of treacherous and perfidious aura around him. But knowing how dangerous Sasuke can be did not stop Kakashi from being loyal to him. He knew that there were many shades of Sasuke’s personality, he knew there were a lot to come from Sasuke, and he knew he would still see so many new and exuberant things from Sasuke. Besides, something told him – let’s just say his instinct that came from years and years of experience – that though how dangerous Sasuke can be to all his enemies or what kind of things Sasuke could do to get what he wants, he would still be a much respected man for Kakashi.

It took a while for Sasuke to come out from the car. He held Naruto in his hands bridal style, and Kakashi knew that though in his position now he should offer to carry Naruto and not burden his boss, there’s no fuckin way he would do that. He knew Sasuke too well. He knew exactly that Sasuke will throw him a death glare if he ever dared to ask. This young boy, Naruto, has done his magical spell upon Sasuke. That he also knew well. They both walked inside the apartment in silent, Kakashi behind Sasuke. He could smell the aura of restlessness spreading from the Uchiha heir, which was something very odd since he knew that Sasuke would most probably be the best candidate for the world’s most confidence man with an amazing level of coolness radiating from his – well, everything.
“Open the door.” Sasuke commanded Kakashi who immediately took a key in his pocket and opened the door.
“I’ll be fine, you may wait in the car.”
“I guess you need your time alone with him don’t you?” Kakashi smiled at Sasuke and walked down to wait in the limo.
The room was pretty small, just like what Sasuke had predicted – a simple room with a bed, a couch, a TV set, one small round dining table, two chairs, a small kitchen and a bathroom. He put Naruto in the bed and watched him thoughtfully. He was now getting more bewildered by Naruto. He had no idea what kind of fear that had made Naruto trembled and screamed like before. But one thing he indeed knew was that he needed to have this boy. And he would surely get what he wanted. Nothing in this world could stop him from getting what he wanted.

…

He felt so warm and comfortable, but somehow his head was hurting like hell. He flinched a bit and realized that he must be in his own bed. He opened his eyes a little bit and realized that it was already morning since the light had seeped through his curtain. He brushed his eyes and determined himself to drink one or two aspirin once he got up. He sat on his bed and scratched his back still with his eyes closed.
‘Weird, how come I don’t feel my clothes?’ He thought.
He then opened his eyes only to found that he was topless and he had never slept without clothes on his entire life. His heart beat fast – real fast – as if it could explode anytime now when he uncovered the blanket that was covering half his body part.
“Why am I naked????” he screamed. He thought deeply of what might have happened last night until he ended up naked on his own bed like this.
“Last night – I went home really late. Walked alone – there was a black car. Uchiha Sasuke – he – he! Shit!”
Naruto could not move an inch from his bed – he was paralyzed. He remembered everything. All things that Sasuke had done to him last night all cam back to him and sent some shiver down his spine. He could barely think now. He was shocked by the sound of his cellular phone, and immediately grabbed it on his desk.
It was an unknown number, “Uzumaki here!” Said Naruto, still with an uneasy tone.
“So, you have a nice sleep last night?” the voice on the other line spoke.
“You –” He knew this voice, he knew it very well.
“We had a very good time last night, though there was some small interruption, but I really hoped that we pick up where we left yesterday.” He said casually.
“You bastard! What have you done? You are so dead Uchiha Sasuke!” Naruto threatened.
Sasuke laughed, “Relax dobe! We didn’t go all the way last night but I promised you we will catch up to that pretty soon.”
“Like hell you would! Listen you damn bastard, if you ever dare to do that again to me consider yourself dead. Don’t even come near me again or - ?”
“Or what?” Sasuke cut, “you’ll tell your partner that I have – in some ways – harassed you in my own car? Make you moan and wriggle beneath me and roam you with pleasure?” Sasuke smiled.
“Fuck you!” Naruto spat.
“Oh no Naruto, I think I will be the one having all the pleasure fucking you very soon.” Sasuke hang up the phone.
“Fuck!” Naruto screamed and threw his cell phone to the wall. He felt the urge to take a shower and cleaned the entire place where that bastard had dirtied him.

…
“Neji!” Tsunade screamed.
“Yes?”
“Where the hell is Naruto? It’s almost 10 and he hasn’t showed up yet?”
“I tried to call him every ten minutes but I couldn’t reach his cell phone!”
Tsunade seemed a bit worried even though she screamed like a mad cow in the middle of the hall. “Tch! Take the lab result for Uchiha case upstairs then go and check for Naruto after lunch.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Wait Neji, I forgot something. Come to my office before you go to Naruto’s. I have something to tell you.”
“Okay!”
Neji himself was very restless. This was very much un-Naruto. He had never left his job and be this irresponsible. Moreover, he had never turned off his cell phone. Even though Naruto was pretty much stupid but he was smart enough to know that he shouldn’t be late under this kind of working environment – being late would only worsen things for him.
“Neji!”
“Naruto? Where have you been? Do you know what time is this? Tsunade was screaming just minute ago and calling for you! I have been trying to call you three hours ago but I couldn’t reach your cell phone and –”
“Neji!” Naruto cut, “relax! I’m here!”
Neji looked at Naruto thoughtfully and let out a deep breath. “Okay, the test lab for our case is finished so I was about to take it upstairs. Care to join me?” Neji smiled.
“Yeah of course! Just let me talk to Tsunade baachan first!”
“Naruto! Get in you brat!” just before Neji could say a thing the sound of Tsunade screaming could be heard all over the place. “There goes my call, care to join me?” Naruto asked Neji to come too just in case Tsunade went berserk.
“Hi baachan!” he laughed nervously. “You’re looking pretty healthy today!”
“You brat! Where the hell have you been?” Tsunade was pretty scary when she is this mad, even Jiraiya would be running scared.
“I’m sorry baachan, I worked late last night and somehow I lost my room key.”
“If you lost your key how come you get to change your clothes and take a shower this morning?” Tsunade questioned him sharply.
“Well the thing is I didn’t lose my key when I got home last night. I lost it when I was about to go out to work. And you know the lady would kick me out from that place if I damaged the door so I have to wait for the maintenance man to come and you know he was so slow and I was –”
“And why didn’t you call me?”
“Oh that –” Naruto searched something in his pocket and then let out a pair of broken cell phone. “I accidentally tripped and stepped this thing over. It’ not my lucky day baachan…” He said.
“Oh God you really cant be helped! Just go with Neji and come again to my office before lunch.” Naruto smiled to Tsunade. He knew it was bad to lie to Tsunade but he couldn’t really tell her what had happened last night could he? “Oh Neji,” Tsunade called, “please take care of this unruly brat for me would you? I know he’s a pain in the ass but just bear with him okay?” Naruto was a bit surprised to sense this open affection directed to him, but he was indeed very happy to hear those words from Tsunade. “That I will do!” Neji answered.
“Wow, am I glad to have not only one but two people who cared for me?” Naruto laughed.
…
Neji knocked the door that led to the lab twice and opened the doorknob. “Shino?” he called.
“Yes, just come in!” A man appeared from beneath the desk holding a small white hamster in his hand. “Oh it’s you Neji. You’re going to take the test lab for the Uchiha case?” he asked.
“Yeah, you looked pretty busy.” Neji looked around. There were plenty of files piling on his desk and so many chemical substances all over place. Shino was the only one running this lab for Konoha police department. He was a very good crime scene investigator who devoted his life in analyzing materials found in the crime scene.
“Life has been pretty hectic these days huh?” Neji asked casually.
“Don’t the same goes to you too? This Uchiha case has blown all the attention in Konoha. Here – can you hold this for a while please?” Shino handed the hamster he was holding to Neji who was startled and wasn’t actually willing to hold the small fury creepy white animal. “Na –” He was just planning to make Naruto hold the hamster instead when he saw that the blond wasn’t even paying attention to anything. Naruto was leaning to the doorframe and his eyes seemed to wander off. He approached Naruto but Naruto didn’t even give the impression that he recognized that. “Naruto?” He called. Naruto remained silent.
“Naruto??” he called a bit louder, completely forgetting that he had the hamster in his hands. This time it was Naruto’s turn to get startled. “Wh – what??”
“Are you okay? You don’t seem to be -”
“Whoa, is that a hamster in your hand?” Naruto said suddenly. “Shit!” Neji quickly handed the hamster to Naruto who seemed pretty amused with it. “Hey there you little white furry ball? What’s your name?” Naruto asked the hamster playfully.
“Ah is that you Naruto?” Shino came back with a pile of files in his hand. “Shino! How have you been?”
“Looks like you guys have known each other?” Neji stared in disbelieve.
“In case you forgot we attend the same academy Neji!” Naruto reminded him.
“I know. It’s just that I never saw you together with Shino…” Neji explained. He didn’t want Naruto to think that he was looking down on Naruto.
“Do you still remember this one?” Shino pointed out the hamster in Naruto’s hand.
“Oh shit! Is this Pochi?” Naruto stared and smiled widely.
“Yes, this is the very famous Pochi himself.”
Neji felt like an outsider in that room seeing how friendly Shino and Naruto were. He almost felt jealous – ‘Wait! Jealous? Why would I be jealous? That was the most ridiculous thing I have ever think of!’
“Ne Neji!” Naruto called him, “this hamster is Pochi!” Naruto said.
“Yeah so I heard.” Neji took a reluctant one step back, that white creepy creature was starting to get on his nerve.
“Ow come on! Don’t tell me this cute furry Pochi scared you? You see – I was cleaning the storage room as a punishment for slacking off in the class when I found Pochi’s mom. She was pretty sick after giving birth to this furry ball. And I felt really bad because I didn’t want to see her died and left Pochi alone but I didn’t know where to go. And at that time Shino came in to the storage room because he needed something and I instantly asked for his help. And he helped Pochi’s mom. Too bad she was really really sick, so we couldn’t really help her out.” There was some grief shown in Naruto’s bright blue eyes. Though it was only in a mere second but Neji sure that he really do saw the pain in Naruto’s eyes. Considering how Naruto’s past was, it was only natural for Naruto to act like that. He knew that Naruto didn’t want Pochi to end up like him, being an orphan ever since he breathed his first air in this world.
“Demo sa… Shino was so so nice that he decided to take care of this white furry little Pochi here and we’ve been friends ever since…” Naruto returned to his happy-go-lucky self.
“Why didn’t you took it instead of Shino?” Neji asked.
“Well, you know I’m having trouble with – well everybody. If somebody report me keeping an animal then I would be dead.”
“But why Pochi? Shino, do you really have to name him Pochi?” Neji accused.
“Me? No! It was Naruto’s idea to name him Pochi. He said something about not being indulged in stereotype thing – you know about the name Pochi always refer to a dog or something like that.”
“It’s glad to see that you’ve become a big boy Pochi!!!” Seeing how cuddly Naruto felt toward Pochi, Neji and Shino could only smile.
“Well this is the test result for the residue found in the scene.” Shino handed Neji the files. “Are you going to Chief’s office after this?” He asked.
Neji checked his watch to see the time, “Nah, I still have half an hour before I have to go there. Why do you ask?”
“She left me a message to be in her office before lunch, so I was wondering if you’re going too. I guess I’ll see you there then. I’ll explain everything about the residue there too.”
“Ne Shino, can I keep Pochi for a while? I’ll return it after the meeting.”
…

“Baa-chan! We’re here…” Naruto walked in to the office blithely without even considering the fact that it was his supposedly boss who ‘occupied’ the office. Behind him Neji followed with a sigh while scratching his head, thinking what a partner he has. But his was suddenly blocked by Naruto’s stopping body. He looked forward to see that Naruto had freeze as if somebody had pierced through his heart at that very moment.
“What’s wrong?” Neji asked suddenly.
Tsunade answered him instead, “Come on in you brat! I believe you’ve met him…” Naruto stared at the man that stared him back with an extremely intense gaze that only Naruto can decipher. He stared him back – long and deep and very much thoughtfully before he finally could let out his voice…
“Kiba!!!!!!” he screamed and literally jumped to the person. “Kiba, is that really you? Dude, it’s been ages since we last met!”
“Naruto, stop clinging to me! We’re both detectives now, you’ll die first if you keep on acting like this!” Kiba’s sound of protest was heard but the eyes that stared at them could see that he was just as clinging as Naruto to him. They could easily figure out that these must have been in really good terms.
“Oh yeah?” Naruto finally let go. “Eat this you bastard!” the sound of an ‘ouch’ was soon echoing in the pretty small room as Naruto gave Kiba what he deserved, a punch in the head.
“Enough!” Kiba grabbed a hold of Naruto’s neck and about to pinch him when Tsunade break the ‘loving’ battle between the two guys. Neji was still standing in the doorway completely taken aback with what has happened. He thought that something bad was about to happen judging from Naruto’s reaction. ‘Well, he was number one when it comes to surprising people!’ he thought.
“It’s been a long time Kiba!” Neji came forward and shook hands with Kiba. “You still look stern Neji!” Kiba smiled. Just before Naruto could utter any more words the door was swung opened again and revealed a man Naruto liked best.
“Shika!!!!!” Naruto immediately run and was about to give Shika the same treatment he gave Kiba when Shikamaru noticed and took one step away that led Naruto to factually hugging the door instead.
“Mendokuse…” he said flatly.
“Well it’s nice to see you too Shika!” Naruto answered sardonically.
“Well that means we just have to wait for one more person –”
“Am I late?” Tsunade was cut by Shino who was popping his head in the door.
“Oh that’s him. Well then let’s start this!”
“Start what? Baa-chan is this some kind of reunion?”
“Neji, Naruto – meet your new team members. Inuzuki Kiba – he’s been working abroad but we managed to get him just in time. As you all know he’s a very famous tracker with a nickname ‘dog boy’. Nara Shikamaru – he worked with the central government in Internal Defense but he’s willing to help us out and be the strategist for our team. And last but not least, our very own Shino as our crime scene analyst. The five of you will work as a team for the Uchiha case. Now you all may go!” Tsunade lit her cigarette, turned on the TV and watched horse racing. “Damnit! I placed another stupid bet on that horse! You stupid lazy ass!!!”
Everyone was standing in silent watching their chief in disbelieve.
“Isn’t gambling illegal?” Kiba broke the silent…

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note:

Huah... finally after 4 long months (maybe more) i could wwrite again... i kinda found problems when writing this fic because somehow i got lost in the story and really dont know how to continue this fic - maybe i'm too pushy but i really dont want to abandon my fic so whatever it cost or no matter how bad the story is i will keep on continuing this fic... so you will probably find that parts of this fic dont make sense or just simply unappealing - it's understandable... anyway, thanks for reading this lousy fic!