Spiral Falling
folder
Naruto AU/AR › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
32
Views:
2,780
Reviews:
615
Recommended:
3
Currently Reading:
2
Category:
Naruto AU/AR › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
32
Views:
2,780
Reviews:
615
Recommended:
3
Currently Reading:
2
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.
Interlude -Essential Empathy Part II
Title: Spiral Falling
Author: Becca Amon
Genre: AU
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Contact: Free_Fall00@hotmail.com
Archived at: http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/
Archiving: Please ask author for permission.
Feedback: Always welcome, especially constructive. If you’re just e-mailing me to tell me you’re enjoying the fanfic, that’s deeply appreciated.
AN: Please note. This takes place before the story began. It’s a peek of sorts into our beloved character’s memories. A little somethinghelphelp us understand some of the things that had influenced their fated rivalry. ^.~ enjoy.
*
Interlude – Essential Empathy part two
Naruto PoV
“I’m going…”, Naruto’s voice echoed in the empty apartment. He waited foolishly for a reply but heard nothing. Locking the door to his apartment, he walked away with resigned steps. Gripping the strap of his schoolbag tightly, he valiantly ignored the emptiness that threatened to swallow him whole.
He ran quickly to catch the waiting bus and offered his thanks to the impatient bus driver. Catching his breath he looked around the crowded bus for a place to stand. A pair of heads and laughing voices reached his ear. He grinned as he made his way to them. He apologized as he squeezed through the gaps in between bodies until he reached his destination.
“Good morning Sakura-chan…Ino-chan…” he grinned.
“G’morning”, Sakura briefly looked up from the magazine she was looking over. Beside her, Ino gave a limp wave and pointed to a picture in the page of the magazine Sakura held.
“Oh~! He’s is so cute in this one!”, Sakura squealed as Ino readily agreed.
“I know! Wow, hestilstill holding first place! Well it is expected”.
Ino nodded, a ridiculously proud expression on her face.
“Eh? Who are you talking about?”. Without warning, Naruto grabbed the magazine from Sakura’s careful clutches.
“Hey Naruto! give it back!”.
“Hmmm”. Peering into the page he found the images of several guys his age. Some information about them was scrolled beside or underneath the picture. He saw that they were ranked based on popularity. The largest image of all was of one he knew all too well.
“Uchiha Sasuke is the most popular?!”, he gaped.
Sakura took her magazine back straightening imaginary creases.
“Don’t look so shocked Naruto. Sasuke-kun is the most popular guy in school and he’s the most popular compared to the other top guys in the other schools”, Ino chastised.
“He even got votes from other girls from the other schools! He’s so cool~!”, Sakura beamed.
“Che…Give me a break! There are other guys better than Uchiha”, he sneered.
“Oh~? Is that so? Give us one example Naruto, who would be better than Sasuke-kun”.
Naruto paused to make sure he had their complete attention, smiling as if about to reveal a great secret. He confidently pointed a thumb to his chest.
“Me of course!”.
His announcement was met by the pair of girls laughing outright and a there were a few giggles to his side as well.
“What? What’s so funny!?”, he asked the girls with quaking shoulders.
“It’s just….”, Sakura covered her mouth as more laughter tried to escape.
“Oh geez~ Naruto! That’s just what I needed this morning!”, Ino said, thumping his back in thanks for the supposed joke.
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows. He could not, for the life of him, see what was so funny.
*
Naruto scratched his head in thought as his eyes skimmed over the mathematical problem written on the board. Iruka-sensei had patiently explained it to him but he must have left his brain os kis kitchen counter when he took a drink this morning. It didn’t help that he was also exhausted from finishing a project last night that was conveniently due today. He must have almost fallen asleep twice during the lecture therefore missing the few important requirements needed for him to solve the math problem fully.
He saw Iruka-sensei turn to the class with those searching pair of eyes he unhappily identified as one a hawk would have when looking for a prey. Trying to make himself as small as possible and mentally warding off anything that may allow him to stand out, he hoped he was not spotted.
“Alright, who can give me the answer to this question?”. A pause, then “Naruto-kun?”.
Shit!, he cursed inwardly.
He raised his bowed head and gave a clueless hum.
“Well Naruto-kun? I explained this to you several times. Why don’t you give it a go, hm?”.
Naruto grinned tightly. I know that! No need to tell remind the damn class, he wanted to say.
He made a few clueless tilting of the head and a few nervous scratches and shrugging, hoping the teacher would give up on him.
Just when he was ready to wilt under the intense gaze Iruka-sensei gave, the teacher’s eyes where diverted elsewhere.
“Ah! Sasuke-kun”.
Naruto turned to the addressed boy’s seat at the back of the class. Sasuke put down his raised hand just as he gave the correct answer. A quiet train of murmurs rolled around the class. A few thanked Sasuke for answering correctly, therefore sparing anyone else from being put in the spotlight. The others cooed admirably at the pale boy.
Naruto gripped his pencil, hearing the faint sound of it bending from the pressure of his quenching hand. As it snapped in his merciless fingers, he imagined Sasuke’s neck in its place.
*
“So I heard from Sasuke-kun that the trip will be at that lodge the seniors from last year went to! Apparently, it was such a cool place, they decided to reserve it again!”.
“Wow~ Sasuke-kun’s so cool!”.
“I don’t know how that made Uchiha cool”. Naruto interrupted the girl’s swooning as he paused from taking a swig of his drink.
Sakura eyed him with impatient green eyes.
“You wouldn’t Naruto. Sasuke-kun called that place and arranged everything with them. He had to win them over you know! We weren’t the only school interested in that place!”.
“How admirably”, he said dryly, already half eninening. He knew for a fact that it wasn’t only Sasuke’s work. He had heard Shino on the phone in the council room after school hours debating over and over with the owners of the lodge. He had seen Ten Ten petition the idea to the teachers. He saw the other members organize enough activities to accumulate enough funds for the oncoming trip. He di bot bother to mention these to the girls though, nor remind them of what they should have already known. They always only listened with half an ear anyways.
As the trio walked out of the school yard and into the streets they noticed a dark car waiting at the curb.
“Oh wow. Nice car.”.
The three teens stood to the side as the door opened and a beautiful dark haired woman in an exquisite suit stepped out of the car. The sun shimmered over her oval pale skin as it highlighted some of the strands in her hair, making it shine a dark blue.
The face was familiar to Naruto. He waited a moment more wondering if he would remember.
She was quietly standing and looked onto the opened gates of the school. A soft wind blew, but the slightly chilly breeze didn’t seem to trouble her.
“Ah!”, Sakura gasped quietly. Naruto and Ino both turned to her expectantly.
“I remember her…”.
“Sasuke-kun”, the woman’s voice interrupted. The trio turned to see Sasuke walking pass the gates. He approached the woman but at such a distance that it seemed they were strangers.
“Mother”, was the only thing he said. He walked pass her and stepped inside the vehicle. A moment longer, she joined him inside. The car drove away with Naruto looking on. Sakura and Ino engaged themselves in a conversation, the encounter already forgotten.
*
Naruto unlocked his apartment door and pushed himself inside. The resounding echo of the door closing filled the silent apartment. He could hear his quiet shuffling easily as he removed his shoes and coat.
“I’m home…”, he announced.
Only silence met his announcement, just as it was only silence that met his arrival. isseissed the soft voice that welcomed him home. He wished for the gruff echo of a laugh at his silly antics.
He thought back to Sasuke’s cold treatment of his mother and cursed the pale boy yet again. One could not imagine the pain of loss until one lost another, he thought. I would never take such things for granted.
He didn’t know everything about the boy, he thought, but he knew one thing.
All I’ve ever wanted, he thought, was what he always had.
Naruto thought of Sasuke’s mother.
What he still has, he amended, gripping the chain around his neck.
Naruto threw himself onto his soft couch and stared up the ceiling.
“No”, he said to the silent room, “I don’t think I like Uchiha Sasuke very much”.
*
End of Interlude
An: Eek! Forgive me for the delay >.< I will try to release a new chapter soon. ^.~ Worry not. It just needs a little bit of tweaking! Again thanks so much for the reviews and encouragement. Definitely appreciated^^ *wipes tear*
Author: Becca Amon
Genre: AU
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Contact: Free_Fall00@hotmail.com
Archived at: http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/
Archiving: Please ask author for permission.
Feedback: Always welcome, especially constructive. If you’re just e-mailing me to tell me you’re enjoying the fanfic, that’s deeply appreciated.
AN: Please note. This takes place before the story began. It’s a peek of sorts into our beloved character’s memories. A little somethinghelphelp us understand some of the things that had influenced their fated rivalry. ^.~ enjoy.
*
Interlude – Essential Empathy part two
Naruto PoV
“I’m going…”, Naruto’s voice echoed in the empty apartment. He waited foolishly for a reply but heard nothing. Locking the door to his apartment, he walked away with resigned steps. Gripping the strap of his schoolbag tightly, he valiantly ignored the emptiness that threatened to swallow him whole.
He ran quickly to catch the waiting bus and offered his thanks to the impatient bus driver. Catching his breath he looked around the crowded bus for a place to stand. A pair of heads and laughing voices reached his ear. He grinned as he made his way to them. He apologized as he squeezed through the gaps in between bodies until he reached his destination.
“Good morning Sakura-chan…Ino-chan…” he grinned.
“G’morning”, Sakura briefly looked up from the magazine she was looking over. Beside her, Ino gave a limp wave and pointed to a picture in the page of the magazine Sakura held.
“Oh~! He’s is so cute in this one!”, Sakura squealed as Ino readily agreed.
“I know! Wow, hestilstill holding first place! Well it is expected”.
Ino nodded, a ridiculously proud expression on her face.
“Eh? Who are you talking about?”. Without warning, Naruto grabbed the magazine from Sakura’s careful clutches.
“Hey Naruto! give it back!”.
“Hmmm”. Peering into the page he found the images of several guys his age. Some information about them was scrolled beside or underneath the picture. He saw that they were ranked based on popularity. The largest image of all was of one he knew all too well.
“Uchiha Sasuke is the most popular?!”, he gaped.
Sakura took her magazine back straightening imaginary creases.
“Don’t look so shocked Naruto. Sasuke-kun is the most popular guy in school and he’s the most popular compared to the other top guys in the other schools”, Ino chastised.
“He even got votes from other girls from the other schools! He’s so cool~!”, Sakura beamed.
“Che…Give me a break! There are other guys better than Uchiha”, he sneered.
“Oh~? Is that so? Give us one example Naruto, who would be better than Sasuke-kun”.
Naruto paused to make sure he had their complete attention, smiling as if about to reveal a great secret. He confidently pointed a thumb to his chest.
“Me of course!”.
His announcement was met by the pair of girls laughing outright and a there were a few giggles to his side as well.
“What? What’s so funny!?”, he asked the girls with quaking shoulders.
“It’s just….”, Sakura covered her mouth as more laughter tried to escape.
“Oh geez~ Naruto! That’s just what I needed this morning!”, Ino said, thumping his back in thanks for the supposed joke.
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows. He could not, for the life of him, see what was so funny.
*
Naruto scratched his head in thought as his eyes skimmed over the mathematical problem written on the board. Iruka-sensei had patiently explained it to him but he must have left his brain os kis kitchen counter when he took a drink this morning. It didn’t help that he was also exhausted from finishing a project last night that was conveniently due today. He must have almost fallen asleep twice during the lecture therefore missing the few important requirements needed for him to solve the math problem fully.
He saw Iruka-sensei turn to the class with those searching pair of eyes he unhappily identified as one a hawk would have when looking for a prey. Trying to make himself as small as possible and mentally warding off anything that may allow him to stand out, he hoped he was not spotted.
“Alright, who can give me the answer to this question?”. A pause, then “Naruto-kun?”.
Shit!, he cursed inwardly.
He raised his bowed head and gave a clueless hum.
“Well Naruto-kun? I explained this to you several times. Why don’t you give it a go, hm?”.
Naruto grinned tightly. I know that! No need to tell remind the damn class, he wanted to say.
He made a few clueless tilting of the head and a few nervous scratches and shrugging, hoping the teacher would give up on him.
Just when he was ready to wilt under the intense gaze Iruka-sensei gave, the teacher’s eyes where diverted elsewhere.
“Ah! Sasuke-kun”.
Naruto turned to the addressed boy’s seat at the back of the class. Sasuke put down his raised hand just as he gave the correct answer. A quiet train of murmurs rolled around the class. A few thanked Sasuke for answering correctly, therefore sparing anyone else from being put in the spotlight. The others cooed admirably at the pale boy.
Naruto gripped his pencil, hearing the faint sound of it bending from the pressure of his quenching hand. As it snapped in his merciless fingers, he imagined Sasuke’s neck in its place.
*
“So I heard from Sasuke-kun that the trip will be at that lodge the seniors from last year went to! Apparently, it was such a cool place, they decided to reserve it again!”.
“Wow~ Sasuke-kun’s so cool!”.
“I don’t know how that made Uchiha cool”. Naruto interrupted the girl’s swooning as he paused from taking a swig of his drink.
Sakura eyed him with impatient green eyes.
“You wouldn’t Naruto. Sasuke-kun called that place and arranged everything with them. He had to win them over you know! We weren’t the only school interested in that place!”.
“How admirably”, he said dryly, already half eninening. He knew for a fact that it wasn’t only Sasuke’s work. He had heard Shino on the phone in the council room after school hours debating over and over with the owners of the lodge. He had seen Ten Ten petition the idea to the teachers. He saw the other members organize enough activities to accumulate enough funds for the oncoming trip. He di bot bother to mention these to the girls though, nor remind them of what they should have already known. They always only listened with half an ear anyways.
As the trio walked out of the school yard and into the streets they noticed a dark car waiting at the curb.
“Oh wow. Nice car.”.
The three teens stood to the side as the door opened and a beautiful dark haired woman in an exquisite suit stepped out of the car. The sun shimmered over her oval pale skin as it highlighted some of the strands in her hair, making it shine a dark blue.
The face was familiar to Naruto. He waited a moment more wondering if he would remember.
She was quietly standing and looked onto the opened gates of the school. A soft wind blew, but the slightly chilly breeze didn’t seem to trouble her.
“Ah!”, Sakura gasped quietly. Naruto and Ino both turned to her expectantly.
“I remember her…”.
“Sasuke-kun”, the woman’s voice interrupted. The trio turned to see Sasuke walking pass the gates. He approached the woman but at such a distance that it seemed they were strangers.
“Mother”, was the only thing he said. He walked pass her and stepped inside the vehicle. A moment longer, she joined him inside. The car drove away with Naruto looking on. Sakura and Ino engaged themselves in a conversation, the encounter already forgotten.
*
Naruto unlocked his apartment door and pushed himself inside. The resounding echo of the door closing filled the silent apartment. He could hear his quiet shuffling easily as he removed his shoes and coat.
“I’m home…”, he announced.
Only silence met his announcement, just as it was only silence that met his arrival. isseissed the soft voice that welcomed him home. He wished for the gruff echo of a laugh at his silly antics.
He thought back to Sasuke’s cold treatment of his mother and cursed the pale boy yet again. One could not imagine the pain of loss until one lost another, he thought. I would never take such things for granted.
He didn’t know everything about the boy, he thought, but he knew one thing.
All I’ve ever wanted, he thought, was what he always had.
Naruto thought of Sasuke’s mother.
What he still has, he amended, gripping the chain around his neck.
Naruto threw himself onto his soft couch and stared up the ceiling.
“No”, he said to the silent room, “I don’t think I like Uchiha Sasuke very much”.
*
End of Interlude
An: Eek! Forgive me for the delay >.< I will try to release a new chapter soon. ^.~ Worry not. It just needs a little bit of tweaking! Again thanks so much for the reviews and encouragement. Definitely appreciated^^ *wipes tear*