Kitsune no Yomeiri

A/N: you're not going to believe this! for a short amount of time, in this story, in this very chapter, there is a SASUKE POV!!! also, there is a part in here where sasuke starts humming, and the words sasuke is singing in his head are jim croce's "alabama rain." i just love that song so much, and it fit the mood and theme of the moment. again if sasuke is OOC, he's going through a tough time right now, so it's expected. hope you enjoy the chapter!


same tags apply


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Chapter 8: Those three little words
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“So what’s the hidden kitsune village like?”

Naruto and Sasuke sat side by side on top of the Fourth’s head, much as they did when they were little, looking out over the expanse of Konoha. Between them was a basket of homemade onigiri for them to munch on while they were there.

Naruto looked over at the other man in surprise for a moment before he grinned. Using a hand to wipe some crumbs off his dark gray kimono, he bought himself some time in answering. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell Sasuke, but it was a hidden village, not meant to be seen or maybe even discussed.

‘What the hell? It’s not like I won’t be taking him there anyway.’

“For one thing, it’s completely surrounded by the tallest, thickest trees of the Great Forest, so it’s very hard to find. Only a certain jutsu will allow humans to come across it. Animals and other demons, however, can sense our presence, as kitsune are some of the more powerful creatures that walk this earth.”

“What kind of jutsu?”

“It’s a locating jutsu, but you have to be very strong to wield it. I hear it’s one of you humans’ forbidden jutsu. Knowing this, Orochimaru must have access to that jutsu. I’m told he’s one of those type that live off learning forbidden jutsu.”

“What do you know of Orochimaru?”

Naruto saw Sasuke stiffening out of the corner of his eye and recalled what Jiraiya had told him some days ago, that Sasuke had defected to Orochimaru. “He and his Sound ninja attacked my village over twenty years ago. He more than likely wanted my father’s power, but he apparently retreated before my father could kill him. That sorry snake-bastard! What I wouldn’t give to sink my fangs into his cowardly hide!”

His breath was coming in harsh pants, and his vision was starting to turn red at the fringes, but a hand on his shoulder calmed him down before he could go into another rage. He’d forgotten that Orochimaru was a sore subject for him as well; if his mother hadn’t have left the village, she would have lived through the birth. But then again, his eyes shifted to Sasuke, he wouldn’t have met his love had he never come to Konoha.

“How has Orochimaru ruined your life, human?”

It was Sasuke’s turn to be surprised, but soon his wide eyes narrowed to a dangerous glare. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I did not mean to pry, but I’ve seen the curse mark on your neck, Heaven’s seal or something, and I know where it came from. I understand if you don’t wish to tell me, but I can get rid of it for you.”

“Bullshit! Tsunade is the best doctor in Fire Country, and even she has no clue what to do!”

“The kitsune are an ancient and wise race, Uchiha-san. We possess vast amounts of knowledge that humans can only dream of achieving. We are most known as pranksters and illusionists, but we are also magical and vindictive. Curses are not from mankind, but techniques drawn from the ancient magicks of the forest creatures. Believe me when I say I can rid you of your curse, for a human jutsu is no match against the pure power of a demon. Why do you think Yondaime could only seal Kyuubi and not kill him?”

Sasuke stared at him skeptically for a moment. “How would you go about destroying it?”

“First, the mark must be activated. Then I would simply bite it and overpower it with my own chakra, for that is surely how Orochimaru is controlling that one. No seal or curse mark works without chakra. That’s why if Orochimaru were dead, the curse mark would go away.”

“Then I can just kill Orochimaru myself.”

“You could, but you’d be dead as well. When the vast amount of chakra sustaining the curse is suddenly cut off, the curse will flare and feed off your own chakra until there’s nothing left. Then it will feed on your life force until you are dead. Only in death will you be free if you kill Orochimaru. But if you get rid of the mark before you kill him, destroy his means of controlling you, then you will be free to live.”

“You make it sound as if I have something to live for.”

“Do you not? What about reviving your clan? That’s why you’re marrying Sakura-san. And Orochimaru and Itachi are still out there. But I guess I can see where you’re coming from.” Sasuke stared at him, a silent command to continue. “You don’t love Sakura, and I’m pretty sure she’s not going to let you go once she has her claws in you, so you can expect to have a pretty miserable life. And if you do happen to get revenge against those two who have hurt you, what would be left? Your sole purpose for living and training will be gone, and you’ll be adrift, without guidance, without a goal. But you know… I could be your reason for living.”

“Tch, and why would you want to be that?”

“Is it so wrong to want to be with the one you love?”

“Love?” Sasuke stood up quickly, his anger radiating out from his tense frame. “Why the hell would you say something as moronic as that? You met me less than a week ago, and you want me to believe you love me? Why kind of pleasure do you get playing these kinds of games?”

“I’ve told you before to not brush me off, you insignificant worm! A kitsune will do a lot of things to trick people, but it will never lie about something so personal and close to the heart! For whatever it’s worth to you, I love you, and I will not lose to that pink-headed bimbo when it comes down to your affection.”

Sasuke sneered at him and made to walk away, but Naruto was behind him in a second, his arms around the Uchiha’s toned chest and broad shoulders. His body fit nicely with Sasuke’s as he hugged the other man, and he moved his mouth to whisper in Sasuke’s ear.

“I love you, Uchiha Sasuke. I would do anything for you.”

“Then leave me the fuck alone,” was the growled answer.

“I can only do that in death, my love.”

“Then die!” Sasuke quickly turned around in Naruto’s arms, swinging his right arm out and into Naruto’s belly. The air left his lungs for a moment as he stumbled backwards. His foot slipped off the edge of the cliff wall, and time seemed to slow down as gravity grasped him in its deathly grip, pulling his whole body backward. Naruto looked to Sasuke, whose eyes were wide in shock and mouth hanging open, and he smiled a small, sad, yet heartfelt smile.

“As you wish.”

And his body disappeared over the edge.

~*~

Sasuke sat cradling the head of the demon lord Kazahaya. His dark gray kimono was torn to shreds, and blood was everywhere, all over the skin and matted in the pale red hair. He’d summoned two of his snakes to retrieve Kakashi and Tsunade, and now he just sat and waited, rocking back and forth a bit, petting the demon lord’s hair.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry…’

It was a mantra repeated over and over in his head, drowning out the sobbing sounds he didn’t know he was making. Why hadn’t the idiot saved himself? Was he really willing to die just because the Uchiha had told him to? That was a devotion that Sasuke had no idea of. He’d been told as a child that any emotion other than hate and any devotion other than to oneself were weaknesses that had no room in the life of an Uchiha.

Of course, by now he should know that anything that came out of Itachi’s mouth shouldn’t be believed more than Orochimaru. Those two were the same. Sasuke was just sorry he hadn’t figured it out sooner. Then maybe he wouldn’t be as fucked up as he was. Maybe he’d be happy and trusted. Maybe he’d even be loved. But no, no one in Konoha could give him that kind of love. Sakura was deluding herself that she was in love with him, and his other fangirls had given up on him the minute he walked out of Konoha. Even his sensei kept a watchful eye on him, though his defection had happened almost ten years ago. But ever since the announcement of his wedding to Sakura, people had been warming up to him, more than likely excited at the prospect of having a new Uchiha clan to deceive into being the perfect shinobi.

And if Sasuke were honest with himself, he didn’t want children. It would only give the cursed Sharingan a chance to be reborn in a new generation of Uchiha, and that would mean Orochimaru and Itachi would be after his children. But the villagers had preordained his destiny when Itachi had killed the clan, and as Neji said, nobody can fight fate.

But sitting here, cradling the broken body of the only person to ever treat him as a human being and not some perfect model of shinobi, he really wanted to try. Kazahaya had already offered things that Sasuke would give his life for. He offered to take the Uchiha far from this village, in exchange for his children. And he’d offered to get rid of the curse mark, and after his seeming refusal of the fox’s proposal, in exchange for nothing. How could Sasuke not win in this situation? He’d get his restored clan and his freedom, not to mention the weight of his betrayal would be gone as well. And though he no longer had the desire to kill Itachi, he would at least have the freedom to do so should the opportunity ever present itself.

The most important factor in his calculations would have to be the pain. Every time someone mentioned his marriage to Sakura, pain like nothing he’d ever felt would rip through his heart, threatening to collapse his chest. It was the pain of a broken promise. His heart wouldn’t accept that he was betraying Naruto, the only person he had ever truly loved. But when he thought about marrying Kazahaya, the pain was minimal, as if Kazahaya was a suitable replacement for Naruto. Could it be that he was a little bit in love with the demon lord? Could it ever be the same, deep love he’d shared with Naruto? For though they’d only been six, who was to say that it couldn’t have been real love?

Sasuke began to hum as he rocked back and forth. ‘We were only kids, but then I’ve never heard it said that kids can’t fall in love and feel the same. I can still remember the first time I told you I loved you…’

“Sasuke!”

Sasuke’s head shot up to see Sakura running towards him. His arms tightened unconsciously around Kazahaya as he waited for the Hokage and his sensei to join the pink-haired girl.

“Uchiha, what the hell happened?”

“He fell off the mountain, but he’s still breathing.” The Hokage made to push him away, but he wouldn’t give up his hold on the fox. She looked at him, but let it slide and tried to examine Kazahaya around him. Sasuke saw Sakura looking at him in confusion out the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Let her think what she wanted to think.

Kakashi appeared in a cloud of smoke, and Tsunade glared at him for it. “Kakashi, I’ve got to go set up the operating room in the hospital. You bring Kazahaya-sama behind me.”

“Hai, Hokage-sama.”

Tsunade nodded and rose, her and Sakura heading back to the hospital. Kakashi moved to take Kazahaya’s limp form, but again Sasuke wouldn’t budge.

“Sasuke, I’ve got to get his lordship to the hosp-”

Before Kakashi could finish, red chakra surrounded Kazahaya’s body, forcing both ninja to shy away. It pulsated around the limp body for a moment then, in a swirling motion, reentered the demon. Kakashi quickly picked him up and sprinted away, leaving a blood covered Sasuke to stare at the ground where nothing but the red liquid remained. He slowly got up to head towards the hospital when movement caught his eyes. They widened when he saw the blood seeping into the earth, leaving no trace of its existence. Shaken by the event, Sasuke quickly leapt after Kakashi, hoping against hope that Kazahaya wouldn’t die.

When he arrived at the hospital, Sasuke was told that Tsunade had taken the demon lord to surgery, but just as quickly taken him out of the operating room and to a recovery room. After she told him which one, Sasuke raced down the halls to find out what was going on.

There was an open door down the hall on his right that had nurses and doctors hovering about it. Sasuke knew that’s where they’d taken Kazahaya, and he began to worry. At the door, he began pushing and shoving to get to the front of the crowd, and he finally made it into the room.

“Sasuke, stay back. Something’s wrong with Kazahaya-sama.”

Sakura was telling him to stay back, which normally he’d ignore her, but she seemed so frantic he did as he was told. He looked around the room. Tsunade and Kakashi were standing the closest to the bed, though that didn’t mean it was anywhere near it. Neji had apparently been called in, more than likely to see if there had been any damage to his chakra flow during the fall. He had his Byakugan activated and was staring at the bed.

“What do you see, Neji?”

“The chakra is the same as Kazahaya’s, only a bit off, like it’s older or something.”

Sasuke swung his eyes to the bed to see Kazahaya sitting stone still on the white sheets, his eyes crimson and slit like an animal’s. He was staring at Tsunade, but as he felt someone’s eyes on him, he swung the look at Sasuke. The eyes narrowed somewhat, and Tsunade turned to see what he was glaring at.

“Human, know that the only reason I have not bitten your head off is that Kazahaya does not wish it.” That was definitely not Kazahaya’s voice. Not even on the morning of his rampage had it been so deep and threatening.

“Sasuke, what is he talking about?”

Sasuke glared at anything and anyone in the room, clearing telling them he’d not say a word on the subject. He felt guilty enough about the whole damn incident without having to tell everyone listening that the damn demon lord wanted his hand in marriage.

“It matters not what I am talking about, woman. The only person that needs understand is that man at the door.”

“Look, you…” Tsunade’s brow was twitching in irritation, “Just what the hell is going on here? I thought you fell off a mountain.”

“Kazahaya did fall off a mountain. He used a lot of his chakra healing himself and fell unconscious. But he has several spells, what you would call jutsu, in place that he can’t afford to be revealed. I am putting us both at great risk to save his happiness, so ask no more questions as you will get no answers from me.”

‘So Kazahaya is unconscious, and this being has taken over his body? Why does Kazahaya have another soul within him? Is it sealed…?’

His thoughts were derailed when something slammed into the side of his body. He looked down to see Sakura clinging to his arm yet again, crying that when the demon lord had woken up as that thing, she had been so scared and had wanted Sasuke there so bad. He scowled down at her overly bright hair, wishing she would just leave him alone.

Sasuke glanced up and caught the fox demon glaring death at Sakura, and when he noticed Sasuke’s attention, he turned away, arms coming up to cross at the chest. It was then Sasuke noticed Kazahaya’s body had been stripped of the shredded kimono, and on his right wrist was a shining gold bracelet. Sasuke’s breath caught in his throat, and he roughly shoved Sakura away from him as he quickly walked from the recovery room.

He heard her shouts behind him to ‘come back’ and ‘what was wrong,’ closely followed by Tsunade’s loud ‘I want to see you later in my office.’ He had to get out of there before he did something foolish, like faint or kill a certain demon lord.

‘What the hell is going on?’


TBC


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well, what the hell is going on? ahahahahahahaha don't worry, it'll all be explained... in the end! ahahahahahahaha

i think i had something else to say... oh yes! thank you for all your wonderful reviews, i'm so glad you all like this story! and to those of you who gave me 'feel better' wishes, thank you. i do feel much better now, though i'm convinced i bruised my bone in my left leg. ah well. at least it gives me more time to write.

again, if you'd like to be alerted when i update, leave your e-mail, and kinda specify that you want to be alerted, cause i'm the type that refuses to make assumptions. thanks for reading!