Eternity
Chapter 3
Naruto rubbed his swollen jaw and grimaced, fiddling with his lose tooth with his tongue. He’d heal in a minute, but that hit had stung.
“You’re a ******** b*****d,” he growled dejectedly. “I was just being careful. What good ninja wouldn’t suspect a trap?”
Sasuke just glared at him, a silent order to stop whining.
Naruto was never good at listening.
“I mean, why’d you go and punch me for being careful?”
Glare.
“You’re so uptight. Geez. It’s not like I was thinking you were being weird…well, maybe this is a little weird. I mean, not that you’re weird, but, yeah, that spirit, blood-drinking, killing frenzy bit is a little weird. Not freaky weird, just, um, not normal kinda weird. Why wouldn’t I think it was a genjutsu?”
“Are you done yet?” Sasuke hissed with irritation.
Naruto huffed and crossed his arms across his chest, not meeting Sasuke’s eyes. “Like you wouldn’t think I was pulling your leg if I said all that crazy stuff.”
Sasuke snorted. “You couldn’t think of a prank that complicated with those two brain cells you have to rub together.”
“You know what?!” Naruto shrieked, jumping to his feet.
Sasuke raised a languid eyebrow.
“I don’t even like you!”
“Feeling’s mutual.”
Naruto gave a frustrated snarl, before settling back down on the couch. “I don’t know why I bother.”
“So, why are you here?” he muttered casually. Sasuke held his breath when Naruto didn’t reply. The silence was loud. He’d gone deaf.
Naruto sighed, then answered, “Because, you’re my best friend.”
“But why?”
Naruto shot him a perplexed look.
“Why do you go so far for me? How can you still care after…all I’ve done? All I’ve become…” he choked on his words, not knowing why he felt compelled to speak them. He had been alone too long. Weak. This need was weak.
I don’t need anyone. And now I’ll be truly alone. For eternity.
“I said it once, and I’ll say it again,” Naruto offered with a broad grin that made Sasuke’s eyes burn. “It’s one of the first bonds I ever had. I won’t let it break so easily.”
Sasuke looked away with a wry chuckle. “Everything is so black and white for you.”
“I keep it simple.”
Sasuke just shook his head.
“Hey, you hungry? Cause I didn’t eat dinner, and I’m starving!”
He turned to look at the blond, disbelieving that he could think of food after all that had transpired in the last hour.
“Please!” Naruto whined, borderline begging.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “I’m not buying for you.”
“Oh, come on! You totally owe me after this, and that way you can buy my silence!”
Sasuke’s jaw went slack. “You…” His eyes slit and his teeth almost ground themselves to dust. “You’re blackmailing me!”
“Heh, well, not exactly,” Naruto replied, scratching his head and grinning wide. “Call it pulling favors.”
“Why you…”
“Ack, sorry!” Naruto screeched, barely dodging the senbon aimed at his head. “Alright! You’re secret’s safe with me.”
Sasuke made a murderous growl deep in his throat and flicked one more projectile, just to teach the idiot a lesson. A sharp yelp of pain and he almost purred with contentment.
“Ow! What the hell? I said I was sorry!”
“Whatever, dumbass,” Sasuke muttered, unfolding from his seated position and making for the door. He bent to don his sandals, looking over his shoulders to Naruto, who was still sprawled across the couch.
Naruto was staring at him oddly, his gaze darting away quickly when Sasuke caught his eye.
“Coming, loser?”
“You bet!” Naruto replied with his trademark grin, the awkward expression wiped from his face. He sprinted past Sasuke, barely pausing to grab his shoes. “Last one there pays the tab!”
Sasuke smirked.
He’d take those odds.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
“This sucks,” Naruto said, pouting like some two-year-old who just lost a favorite toy. He pulled at his singed blond hair, puckering his lips and crossing his eyes to inspect the damage. “You cheated.”
Sasuke couldn’t help the self-satisfied smirk that tweaked his lips. “You never said we couldn’t use traps or explosives. I made it here first. You pay.”
“But it’s not fair!” Naruto whined. Behind the counter, the old cook laughed, and Naruto scowled at him in mock indignation.
“It was your idea, dead last.”
“Whatever,” Naruto huffed. He bent and slurped down his noodles, finding it hard to hold a grudge when he was eating his favorite food with his best friend. He smiled around a delicious bite, humming with pleasure. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sasuke staring at him with distaste. “What?” he mumbled around his mouthful noodles.
Sasuke sighed and lowered his own chopsticks, delicately raising a more modest portion to his lips and chewing thoroughly before replying. “That’s how you eat, Naruto. Lift. Chew. Swallow. You don’t inhale noodles into your lungs. How have you not choked to death yet?”
“Pft,” Naruto responded with an airy wavy of his pointy utensils. “Who has time for that? I grow faster than you eat.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed,” Sasuke said dryly, “I’m taller than you.”
“Yeah, but my muscles are bigger!” Naruto flexed a bicep proudly.
“Hmph, maybe the muscle in your fat head is bigger.”
Naruto paused for a moment, then jabbed a blunt finger into Sasuke shoulder. “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sasuke rolled his eyes and resumed eating; ignoring Naruto’s waving arms and blustered protests.
They finished the rest of their meal in typical form, Sasuke trying his best not to listen to Naruto’s chatter about all the important happenings during Sasuke’s absence: Sakura had been promoted to medical jounin, and don’t piss her off anymore, cause she can kill you with a finger, and Gaara was the kazekage, which was so cool and the great Uzumaki Naruto will catch up to him someday, and the perverted hermit (gods knew who that was) had promised to teach him a new chakra forming technique… It went on and on.
It was almost like the last three years had never happened.
They finished their meal, Naruto matching three bowls of miso pork ramen to Sasuke’s one bowl of tofu veggie. Naruto pulled out his frog wallet, which was getting a bit threadbare. The blond paid for the meal without grumbling, wearing a small smile that made Sasuke wonder how his life might have been different if he’d never left for Sound, if his family was still alive, if he wouldn’t be alone forever, tainted by something dark and hungry that fluttered against his mind.
It surfaced a few blocks from the restaurant as they passed by the red light district. A tremor took him and he paused. He could smell it. Intercourse and exertion brought it to the surface, a heady, arousing smell just beneath their skin. Usually, he knew better than to frequent this area of town, but he’d been tuned out listening to Naruto’s diatribe.
Not now. He squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on his breathing. Please, not now. Not in front of Naruto. He’ll think I really am an insatiable monster.
But the blood craving was thrumming in his head. He barely heard Naruto’s concerned voice.
“Sasuke? You alright?”
A hand was on his shoulder. He cringed. Naruto’s pulse was pounding against his skin through the cloth of his shirt, calling out to him in an ancient dialect of primal need.
“Hey! What’s wrong?”
“Let go,” Sasuke whispered weakly. The tremors were coming closer together now.
Naruto, like the stubborn fool he was, ignored his command, gripping him tighter. “What the hell is going on?”
He could smell Naruto’s blood, like a mulled wine, enticing. He licked his lips.
“Look at me! What’s the matter with you?”
Sasuke opened his eyes, panting, Naruto’s face inches from his own, glaring, mouth curved in a frown. “Do I scare you?” he whispered.
Naruto’s eyes widened momentarily, but he recovered quickly with a bark of laughter. “Like I’d ever be scared of you,” he growled, giving Sasuke a little shake by his shoulder. “But you’re freaking me out. What’s wrong?”
“Blood.”
Naruto paled visibly, and Sasuke used his momentary lapse to shrug out of his grip and step away.
“I have to go.”
Sasuke started for the nearest brothel, intent on satisfying his need as quickly as possible and retreating back to the relative safety of his house. He didn’t usually require two feedings in one night, but Naruto had interrupted his last one before he’d been satiated and he’d lost a lot of blood from his little demonstration. It couldn’t be helped. He knew better than to ignore the urges.
He dodged to the left as Naruto’s fist whistled past his ear.
“You b*****d,” Naruto hissed. “I thought you said you were in control!”
“I am,” Sasuke assured him, warily sinking his weight into a defensive pose. “But I told you what happens if I don’t…feed.”
Naruto blanched.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” Sasuke whispered urgently, “but I have to go. Now.”
Naruto’s gaze bored into him, a steely resolve that he had often seen on the battlefield.
“Don’t interfere,” Sasuke ordered, hoping he’d listen. He couldn’t fathom what suppressing the spirit would do in such close quarters with so many civilians, but it would be ugly. Naruto had to understand. Sasuke forced himself to break eye contact and turned to leave once more.
“Use me.”
Sasuke almost tripped. He whirled around to meet Naruto’s steady gaze. “What?” he asked dumbly.
Naruto rolled his eyes and stepped back into his personal space. “Use me,” he offered quietly. “Don’t…don’t hurt anyone else. I heal fast. I don’t mind.”
Sasuke shook his head. “There are side effects.”
“What side effects? You said that woman would be fine. Why would I be any different?”
“Don’t make me explain myself,” Sasuke said with finality. “It won’t work.”
“Why not?” Naruto snapped back, his face twisting.
“I don’t have time for this.” Sasuke turned for the final time, thinking to end the discussion.
“I’ll tell.”
Sasuke stopped mid-step. “Excuse me?” he asked, the threat of violence lacing his tone. “You’ll what?”
Naruto’s head was tilted defiantly, fists at his side. “You heard me,” he said with a triumphant grin.
“This isn’t a game!”
“I’m not playing, Sasuke,” Naruto replied. “You leave the civilians alone, or I’m turning you in.”
“Don’t you understand what will happen if I don’t do this? Have you listened to anything I’ve said?” Sasuke asked incredulously.
“Just use me,” Naruto reasserted, having already made up his one-track mind. “I’ll bet those people don’t give you permission. It’s wrong, Sasuke.”
“I told you, there are side effects,” Sasuke practically sputtered at Naruto’s stubbornness. “You don’t want to do this. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, Sasuke.” Naruto stepped forward, snatching Sasuke wrist and pulling him back to the main road. “Please.”
Sasuke felt the steady, strong beat of a heart against his wrist, smelled the blood scent heavy in his nostrils, pungent and smoky. He swallowed a gasp. Naruto’s eyes were clouded with worry. “Hurry,” was all he managed to squeeze from his clenched jaw.
Naruto dragged him away from the markets and bars, his urgency hindered by the crowds. It was a holiday tomorrow. The festivities would run late.
He let himself be led, feeling his muscles weaken. The spirit was sapping him, draining his will. The point where Naruto’s skin met his had become a drum beat in his ears.
Thump-thump.
The lights were fuzzy and blurred, streaks of highlighted luminescence that left red worms behind his eyelids.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Naruto picked up the pace and darted down the deserted side streets.
His lungs hitched. Too fast. Thump-thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thumpthumpthumpthump
They were winding there way through a back alley, not a mile from the Uchiha district, when his vision blurred around the edges. Tinted red. He reversed Naruto’s hold on his wrist, jerking him to an abrupt stop and then turning and slamming him none-to-gently against the wall. He pressed Naruto’s other shoulder against the bricks, restraining him as he tried to rebound from the unexpected assault. He took several deep breaths. Naruto tried to twist out of his hold, but Sasuke could feel the spirit shuddering, driving him, flooding him with a strength no human should possess.
No turning back.
“Sasuke, what are you doing?” Naruto growled, and Sasuke felt the inhuman chakra of Kyuubi leaking from the seal.
He was shaking with need, his body demanding he give in, succumb. “Now,” he gasped.
Naruto stilled momentarily, before nodding his consent. He swallowed thickly, and Sasuke watched in fascination as the muscles worked in the bronze throat. He felt the familiar sharp pain in his gums as his canines extended, prodding against his lower lip until he let his jaw relax just enough to expose them. Naruto jerked in shock at the sight.
“What the ********!?” Naruto gasped, his body tense as a bow string.
His hand went from Naruto’s shoulder to his hair, pulling just enough to force him to expose the long column of his neck. He could see the taunt strain of tendons as Naruto resisted the instinct to fight or flee. “It won’t hurt,” Sasuke murmured, the blood lust making his voice low and rough.
“Like hell it won’t,” Naruto growled, but he didn’t struggle against the hand pulling his scalp.
Sasuke lowered his head, feeling the slightest resistance before his teeth sunk deep into warm flesh.
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