Yoru No Koishii

Oi. I meant to have this up ages ago, but such is life.

******

“Chickening out?”

I ignore the comment, paying attention instead to the shadows of the nighttime forest around us. A team of shinobi passed up just a few minutes ago, and I’m still expecting them to turn back and discover us.

One would think that with all the sneaking into Konaha I’ve done over the years, it would seem easy, but this time is different. This time I have to bring something back out.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t kill anyone.”

“I’ll try,” Kisame promises. The statement is followed with a chuckle, like he thinks it a big joke.

“Try hard,” I growl, then jump away.

******

It’s too easy to get here. Perhaps Naruto was right when he said it was too far from the main village. I’ll have to remember that, maybe set up a warning system or something when this is all over.

The house is silent, everyone at least appearing to be asleep. I walk down the hall, wondering if he’s taken the main bedroom or left it empty.

Then one of the doors open, and a sleepy black-haired girl steps out. Before she can scream, I’ve got her against my chest, my hand clamped over her mouth, a kunai at her throat.

“Quiet,” I warn. She must be mine, none of Naruto’s are old enough. “Naruto has to come with me on a mission. You and your sister will watch the younger children.”

“W-who are you?” I let her go, slipping the weapon back into my pouch.

“I’m your father.” I answer calmly, handing her a small scroll. “That lets you draw money out of the Uchiha accounts. Don’t waste it.” I don’t think they could even put a dent in the amount in there, but they are teenage girls, so it’s better to be safe then sorry.

“Which room is his?”

“The main one. It’s…” I hold up a hand to stop the explanation.

“I know where it is. Go back to bed.” I head down the hall, not bothering to see if she obeys.

******

He’s not sleeping. I can tell that as soon as I open the door, satisfied when it moves soundlessly. I close a hand over his mouth, and the other quickly catches his wrist before it can reach whatever’s under his pillow. After an instant he relaxes, and I let him go.

“Get dressed.”

“Why?”

“Just do it, Pet.” I can sense his curiosity, but he doesn’t argue, a fact that surprises me, just reaching for his clothes, a pair of tight black pants and a black t-shirt, covered by a jacket in his trademark orange. I stop him when he reaches for his kunai pouch. Better to leave them here in case he decides to cause trouble later.

“You won’t need those.”

“What’s going on?” I stand in front of him, unsure how to answer. My hands rise to settle at his waist, an attempt to calm him.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.” He’s starting to get nervous now, and I know my strange behaviour is worrying him. I offer a kiss of apology for what I’m going to do.

“I love you.” He pulls away, suddenly, and I let my sharingan activate.

“What the hell is wrong with y…”

I catch him as he falls, holding him gently to me as I offer another kiss on his temple, a silent apology I know he can’t feel. Then, lifting him onto my back, I push the balcony doors open and make my escape.

******

We don’t stop to rest until late the following night, wanting to put as much distance between us and any pursuing nin as possible. I’m exhausted by the time we choose a camping space, taking a minute to catch my breath as Kisame sets Naruto down under a tree and begins to set up our camp. After a moment, I begin setting up to, laying out my bedroll while Kisame digs out a place for the fire.

“Mmhm?” I catch the sound but ignore it for the moment, not paying any attention to what the shark is doing. He wouldn’t dare really hurt him.

“You still look awfully puny to be the demon’s carrier,” Kisame states. I can’t help but smirk as I watch the interplay that follows. Maybe that’s what makes my fox special; he never gives in. Except to me, of course. I just hope that won’t change.

“Ow, damned demon.” Kisame’s strike draws my attention again and I cross my arms, glaring at the shark.

“Leave him alone.” I’m not going to let him just push him around like that, prisoner or not. Naruto deserves better.

“Tch. You’re almost as bad as your brother. Still, I don’t envy whoever else got stuck with him this time.”

“I would have preferred being with him then you.” It would have saved all this trouble, a quick slice across the throat when he wasn’t expecting it…

“Yeah, well, he didn’t feel like having to be on guard against a knife in the back twenty-four seven.” He grins, and apparently Naruto doesn’t like his expression any more then I do, if his muffled snarl is any indication.

“Hush, Pet.” He’s managed to get himself back to his knees, and I wrap an arm around his waist to carry him back to the tree. Kisame’s set up the fireplace, and a carefully controlled fireball jutsu quickly lights it. Naruto glances around, not looking too worried by his position, which is one good sign, at least.

“So where’s he sleeping, anyway? Gonna just leave him there?” No wonder Itachi wanted to get rid of him. The idiot doesn’t even have a basic sense of decency.

“No. He’ll sleep with me,” I answer, settling myself next to Naruto.

“Hmm, I think I preferred Itachi after all. At least he let me have some fun.”

“Hmmhnn.” Naruto’s muffled comment draws my attention. Kisame insisted on gagging him earlier, worried that he would wake and yell and I couldn’t really argue with his logic, not that time at least.

But now there’s no danger, so I pull the tape off; quickly, to minimise the discomfort.

“Maybe if you weren’t so ugly, you’d be able to find a girlfriend,” he snaps, and I smirk, giving a little snort at the fact. “Although, I suppose you could always go fishing, maybe you’d find a desperate eel or something.”

Kisame stares at him, then laughs. For a moment I debate on whether or not to ask what’s so funny, but then decide not to. I probably don’t want to know.

“You’ll be fun to break.” Not if I have any say in it.

I slip into a more comfortable position, wondering just how much say in it I really will have. I still don’t know how the Leader intends on positioning the carriers. If it’s positional, I’ll probably end up with one of the fewer tailed demons, like Gaara maybe. I hope not. Gaara and I are like oil and water. No, actually, that’s a bad analogy, because we’re far too much alike. Naruto and I are truly like oil and water, or perhaps day and night is a better way of putting it. He’s everything I’m not: Loud, cheerful, often too trusting for his own good, and somehow, still so apparently innocent and naïve. I’m cold, moody, quiet. The only one I’ve every really trusted since that night is him, and innocent? I had innocence torn away before I was old enough to truly know what it was.

I glance back at him, noting how tense he is. A slight shiver runs through him and I wonder what he’s thinking about. Probably worried about what’s going to happen.

“Relax.” I carefully hide my emotions from him, not letting him know that I’m as worried as he is. That would only scare him.

He looks over at me, blinking sleepily, and I glance over his shoulder, at where Kisame has dropped the Samehada. The stupid thing makes me nervous, despite Kisame’s assurances that it will only affect Naruto. Sometimes I think the thing’s actually sentient. Maybe it is. If they can seal demons into people, why not objects as well.

Still, it seems to be behaving at the moment, if Naruto’s half-lidded eyes are any indication. I glance at him again, then return to looking at the fire.

A moment later, I feel the pressure of his head on my shoulder.

“He looks more like your lover then your captive.” I’m a little surprised when Naruto doesn’t answer, and then wonder just how much that sword is draining off him.

“Overpowering someone isn’t the only way to get things done. Naruto would do nearly anything I told him to, and I don’t need to beat him up at all.” And if he was that set against something, I certainly wouldn’t force him, unless it was for his own good.

“What if you told him to suck me off?” That doesn’t even warrant an answer, but Naruto rouses enough to give one anyway.

“You probably don’t have anything to suck off.”

“I’ve got enough to make you scream.” My eyes narrow at the comment, but I’m not going to be drawn into a useless argument with the bastard. Besides, nature’s calling.

“Enough. I’ll be back in a minute.” And he’d better not try anything while I’m gone.

The next thing I know, Kisame’s giving out an agonized scream. Worried that we’re under attack, I quickly finish and return, my mood souring even more when I see what’s going on.

“Naruto, let go.” I tug his head back, satisfied when he obeys, only pausing to spit. Not that I can blame him.

“You can’t watch a tied, half-drained idiot for two minutes? No wonder you two could never catch him.”

“I’m not an idiot,” Naruto protests. I push his head away roughly.

“Shut up, dobe.” If he doesn’t, I’m not sure that I’ll be able to keep myself from taking my anger out of someone. Damned fish, trying to do whatever it was he had been trying to do. My mind can come up with far too many ideas for my comfort.

“Umm… Sasuke, I need to go.” I look at Naruto, realising what he means after a second, annoyed at myself for not having asked him earlier. I untie his feet, then, once we’re out of Kisame’s line of sight, his hands as well. I watch his back as he empties himself, and find myself needing to taste him again, then promptly give into the desire once he’s done, pushing him against a tree and kissing him soundly. There will be few enough opportunities until we get to Itachi’s secret training centre.

“Just trust me, Pet. You don’t have to do anything I don’t tell you to do.” I just hope I can keep that promise.

A couple more kisses stolen, and I lead him back to the fire to eat. He’s probably starved.

Kisame, as I expected, has cooked something he caught earlier. Surprisingly, he’s a good cook, as long as you don’t inquire too closely about the ingredients of the meal.

Before long Naruto’s napping against me again, and I pull him into a more comfortable position. Then Kisame heads off to his own bed, and I’m the only one left awake, my senses on full alert as I sit silently, my thumb rubbing small circles on my blond’s hip.

He wakes enough to mutter a complaint when I move him later, when Kisame’s turn at watch comes around, but soon we’re both asleep, curled together in my bedroll.

******

It’s a wonder I don’t strangle one of them over the next three days. Although the obvious arguments ended when Naruto kicked Kisame in a delicate place while I wasn’t looking the second night. The comments and barely veiled threats, however, more than make up for it.

But I suppose I should be grateful that Naruto hasn’t lost faith in me yet. Sometimes I wonder just how much it would take for him to stop loving me. Not that I ever want to find out. I’m well aware that Naruto’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and despite the way things look, I certainly don’t want to lose him.

Finally, late on our fourth day of travel, we reach Itachi’s hideout, and I realise that I would have happily listened to another two weeks of fighting rather then be here.

But there’s nothing to be done about it, not if my plans are going to be successful.

I’ll just have to make sure whatever sacrifices he makes are worth it.

******

There, done. And I’m off to write other chapters.