Killing Me Softly
folder
Naruto AU/AR › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
11
Views:
1,322
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Naruto AU/AR › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
11
Views:
1,322
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
VI
VI
Sasuke eased himself down into the sewers, carefully avoiding his own traps. He hit the bottom and slowly began to make his way toward the niche he’d used as a hide-away for the better half of fifty years. He eased the door open and slipped between the edge of the door and the wall, striking a match as he did so. The flame case eerie shadows, but the shadows had long since ceased to frighten him.
He reached out to find his candle and lit it. The dancing flame revealed to him what he was searching for, and carefully he pulled Kusunagi from her resting place. The ancient sword weight heavy I his hand, but he knew she wouldn’t fail him. Armed, Sasuke left his niche and returned to the surface world, blinking twice to activate his Sharingan. It would drain most of his energy, but if he found what he was looking for, he could rest for a few days before engaging his target.
No more of his friends were going to die, he swore, even if he ended up killing himself to make that promise true.
In and out, in and out.
The needle slid effortlessly through skin, sewing the head back onto the body.
In, out. In, out.
Shunsuke hummed as he worked, grinning away as he made his costume. Oh, the master was so clever, saying that he could use the skin as a costume. The master was so kind, allowing Shunsuke become just like them. He too would walk the night and feast on his fellow man – and he would get his revenge on all those that had wrong him in the past, starting with that little blonde-haired waiter.
Shunsuke giggled and missed a stitch, chortling curses at himself for being so careless. It had to be perfect! Perfect or they would know. Oh, how clever the master, luring out the pretty on at a time.
It wasn’t like Shunsuke didn’t know where the last of the Master’s enemies hid. The mice had holed up together, pooling their power. If Shunsuke or the master tired to reach them, ooh, there would be hell to pay. So Shunsuke kept sewing until the sun began to rise and slept during the sun’s rule. By the time the moon was high, his costume was finished and he proudly displayed it before the master.
“All right,” the master said playfully, “you can go out. But do be careful.”
Shunsuke grinned. “Of course.”
Gaara jerked upright and stifled his cry of agony, if only to keep from waking Kankurou. His brother lay beside him, sleeping peacefully. Gaara had no reason to wake the elder, even if he did want a little comfort. Something hit the wall outside the bedroom and Gaara felt his cheeks heat.
Lucky Naruto.
Gaara eased his way out of bed and shed his clothing until he was left wearing only his boxers. The air conditioning dried the night terror sweat on his skin, but despite that comfort, Gaara couldn’t compel himself to go back to sleep.
When Neji was still with him, Gaara could always count on the Hyuuga to chase the bad away, submitting to the brunette’s every whim. With that option no longer available to him, Gaara was stuck with his own nightmares. He couldn’t understand how his brother could stand living without Shikamaru, or how Sasuke could remain solitary without only fleeting glimpses of Naruto here and there. Gaara couldn’t even understand Naruto.
For the longest time after Neji had passed Gaara had harboured a crush for the other jinchuuriki, but he’d never acted on it. He was sure everyone had known but just hadn’t said a word. Gaara let out a silent, shuddering breath. He was destined to be alone.
Fingers dug into his shoulders, rubbing along his spine. A forehead rested against his neck, dark hair tickling at his pulse. Gaara relaxed back into Kankurou’s grip and accepted the hug. The redhead allowed Kankurou to lead him back to the bed and cuddle him close. It wasn’t really what Gaara wanted, but it would do. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep again.
“Gaara,” he heard Kankurou whisper, “it’s all right to be afraid. It’s all right to cry when you need to. If you need anything at all, just tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
“How do you do it? How do you live after the only person you’re ever loved is gone?”
“You mourn. Eventually, you find someone new.” Kankurou rolled over, holding himself up over his little brother. Darkened emerald eyes met Gaara’s own and the redhead tensed just a bit. Kankurou’s lips brushed over his, once, twice, and then the elder Sabaku rolled off his brother and simply went to sleep.
Gaara lay in the dark for a long while before he curled up against Kankurou, burying his head against his chest. Kankurou’s arm came around Gaara’s shoulders, holding him tighter to his body.
“Don’t ever be afraid to admit you’re in love, Gaara,” Kankurou whispered.
Gaara nodded and clutched tighter to his brother, letting the elder’s warmth sink into his skin and lull him to sleep. Kankurou simply listened to his brother breathe and sighed.
“I love you, Gaara.”
Sasuke eased himself down into the sewers, carefully avoiding his own traps. He hit the bottom and slowly began to make his way toward the niche he’d used as a hide-away for the better half of fifty years. He eased the door open and slipped between the edge of the door and the wall, striking a match as he did so. The flame case eerie shadows, but the shadows had long since ceased to frighten him.
He reached out to find his candle and lit it. The dancing flame revealed to him what he was searching for, and carefully he pulled Kusunagi from her resting place. The ancient sword weight heavy I his hand, but he knew she wouldn’t fail him. Armed, Sasuke left his niche and returned to the surface world, blinking twice to activate his Sharingan. It would drain most of his energy, but if he found what he was looking for, he could rest for a few days before engaging his target.
No more of his friends were going to die, he swore, even if he ended up killing himself to make that promise true.
In and out, in and out.
The needle slid effortlessly through skin, sewing the head back onto the body.
In, out. In, out.
Shunsuke hummed as he worked, grinning away as he made his costume. Oh, the master was so clever, saying that he could use the skin as a costume. The master was so kind, allowing Shunsuke become just like them. He too would walk the night and feast on his fellow man – and he would get his revenge on all those that had wrong him in the past, starting with that little blonde-haired waiter.
Shunsuke giggled and missed a stitch, chortling curses at himself for being so careless. It had to be perfect! Perfect or they would know. Oh, how clever the master, luring out the pretty on at a time.
It wasn’t like Shunsuke didn’t know where the last of the Master’s enemies hid. The mice had holed up together, pooling their power. If Shunsuke or the master tired to reach them, ooh, there would be hell to pay. So Shunsuke kept sewing until the sun began to rise and slept during the sun’s rule. By the time the moon was high, his costume was finished and he proudly displayed it before the master.
“All right,” the master said playfully, “you can go out. But do be careful.”
Shunsuke grinned. “Of course.”
Gaara jerked upright and stifled his cry of agony, if only to keep from waking Kankurou. His brother lay beside him, sleeping peacefully. Gaara had no reason to wake the elder, even if he did want a little comfort. Something hit the wall outside the bedroom and Gaara felt his cheeks heat.
Lucky Naruto.
Gaara eased his way out of bed and shed his clothing until he was left wearing only his boxers. The air conditioning dried the night terror sweat on his skin, but despite that comfort, Gaara couldn’t compel himself to go back to sleep.
When Neji was still with him, Gaara could always count on the Hyuuga to chase the bad away, submitting to the brunette’s every whim. With that option no longer available to him, Gaara was stuck with his own nightmares. He couldn’t understand how his brother could stand living without Shikamaru, or how Sasuke could remain solitary without only fleeting glimpses of Naruto here and there. Gaara couldn’t even understand Naruto.
For the longest time after Neji had passed Gaara had harboured a crush for the other jinchuuriki, but he’d never acted on it. He was sure everyone had known but just hadn’t said a word. Gaara let out a silent, shuddering breath. He was destined to be alone.
Fingers dug into his shoulders, rubbing along his spine. A forehead rested against his neck, dark hair tickling at his pulse. Gaara relaxed back into Kankurou’s grip and accepted the hug. The redhead allowed Kankurou to lead him back to the bed and cuddle him close. It wasn’t really what Gaara wanted, but it would do. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep again.
“Gaara,” he heard Kankurou whisper, “it’s all right to be afraid. It’s all right to cry when you need to. If you need anything at all, just tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
“How do you do it? How do you live after the only person you’re ever loved is gone?”
“You mourn. Eventually, you find someone new.” Kankurou rolled over, holding himself up over his little brother. Darkened emerald eyes met Gaara’s own and the redhead tensed just a bit. Kankurou’s lips brushed over his, once, twice, and then the elder Sabaku rolled off his brother and simply went to sleep.
Gaara lay in the dark for a long while before he curled up against Kankurou, burying his head against his chest. Kankurou’s arm came around Gaara’s shoulders, holding him tighter to his body.
“Don’t ever be afraid to admit you’re in love, Gaara,” Kankurou whispered.
Gaara nodded and clutched tighter to his brother, letting the elder’s warmth sink into his skin and lull him to sleep. Kankurou simply listened to his brother breathe and sighed.
“I love you, Gaara.”