Chapter Text
"Time slows down whenever you're around
But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale" -Today was a Fairytale by Talor Swift
A Very Foxy Fairytale
4. And True Love...
Naruto's lungs burned as he ran as fast as he could along the forest floor. He took a sharp turn, his bare feet skidding on the loose earth before he kicked off a tree propelling him in his new direction, not breaking his quick pace through the woods. Coming upon a fallen tree, Naruto sprung into the air with a strong jump and soared over it. His hand grabbed onto a narrow branch above his head, using it to help swing his body farther past the large log, his claws leaving large gashes in their wake. Landing with a soft thump, Naruto continued onward.
He had no destination in mind, but the slight burn in his body that accompanied the adrenaline running through his veins was making him feel better than he had felt in the past week. One week, and all Naruto felt was hollow. One week, since Sasuke had left- left him.
It had always hurt when the human had left before, especially when Naruto had first realized all those years ago that Sasuke wasn't coming back, but for some reason this time the pain was so much worse.
Naruto had felt his bond with the Uchiha prince change from what it had been from as children to something else, something stronger. He still enjoyed his company like he had when they were younger, but it was less innocent as it once had been. Sasuke's presence had stirred feelings in Naruto that he hadn't felt before, and Naruto didn't want to let those feelings go. It didn't matter now though, because Sasuke was gone.
Naruto grit his teeth and ran faster, the thoughts of their last meeting playing in his head like clockwork. The knowledge that he had let down his friend to the point of abandonment- Sasuke broke their promise because Naruto was too scared and too stubborn and he had hurt Sasuke and Sasuke hated him for it- His claws bit into his palms until they bled, shattering those crippling thoughts before they could go further. Naruto took a shuddering breath and ran on.
An hour later, Naruto was drinking from a small stream as he caught his breath. He had run farther than he had originally intended and he would be lucky if he made it home by nightfall if he walked back at a quick pace. Not that it really mattered what time he got back home. Naruto was full grown and could take care of himself, but he had left his shirt behind and the cool August air was starting to chill his sweat coated skin. He was lucky that there was no breeze whatsoever today to sting his bare skin. It was amazing that just a week before the weather had been warm enough to swim in the forest's river with Sasuke.
Naruto sighed and stretched his muscles before he turned and began to make his way home.
He paused when an unusual noise met his ears. Naruto cocked his head to the side, his pointed ear twitched as it strained to hear the distant sound. His eyebrows furrowed when he realized that what he was hearing sounded like someone crying. Not the whimpering of a hurt animal, or the tiny voice of an upset fairy, but the cries of a scared child. A human child.
Naruto turned northeast and headed toward the child's cries.
It didn't take Naruto long to find the clearing along the Eastern border of the Enchanted Forest that was neighboring the Land of Fire. Naruto kept himself hidden in the trees, knowing that the clearing was too open and too close to the border for him to show himself. He had been lucky to escape notice with his stupid stunt into the village a week prior, but he may not be so lucky again. He crouched on a wide branch and peered through the thick foliage at the figured kneeling near the center of the small field of wildflowers.
It was obvious from the child's dark long hair hanging around her shoulders that she was a girl. She wore a white dress, decorated with purple flowers. From Naruto's vantage point, he could tell that she was leaning over her bent legs. Her hands wrapped around her stomach and her head nearly touching her knees as her shoulders shook with the strength of her tears.
Naruto bit his lip, his heart clenching at the sight of the most likely lost and scared girl in front of him. The best case scenario was that she had just been separated from her traveling companions. The worst was that they had been killed while traveling through the forest and had left her orphaned and prey to whatever predator would happen to come across her.
Taking a deep breath through his nose Naruto tested the air for any other humans. He was still reluctant to show himself, especially this close to the border, and didn't want to risk being seen by some villagers that would get it in their heads to try to hunt him down. Only smelling the scent of the child and the surrounding blooming flowers that almost covered the girls scent with their strong aroma, Naruto released his breath through his mouth and silently climbed down the tree.
Just before he stepped out of the cover of the trees, Naruto's sharp eyes peered around the clearing. Trees surrounded the whole area and he couldn't see any unusual movement. His eyes went back to the crying girl and he licked his lips once more in hesitation. This wasn't like saving Sasuke all those years ago. He hadn't had a choice back then because Sasuke would have died otherwise. Besides, he had been much deeper in the forest back then. Not to mention the fact that Naruto had been much more reckless as a child.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto took a step into the clearing and slowly crept his way toward the little girl. His nose scrunched up as his bare feet moved through the flowers, spilling their pollen filled odor loose in the air to make his throat and eyes feel itchy. His tails batted the air, trying to move the pollen away from his person, but caused tiny tornadoes to form that quickly settled back into place once his tails ceased their movement. Naruto slowed his breathing to try to deter the tiny particles from reaching his airway. He knew they couldn't hurt him, but they were annoying nonetheless.
He stopped when he was only a few feet from the crying child. He frowned, looking down at her. "Hey," he called, "Are you alright?"
The girl continued to sob, unable to hear him through the volume of her wailing.
Naruto stepped forward more until he was right next to the brunet. He crouched down next to her and observed her shaking form for a moment, amazed that she still didn't seem to notice him. He carefully reached out a hand to rest on her trembling back. The girl froze under his touch and her sob caught in her throat. "Are you alright?" Naruto asked again. "Are you lost?"
Naruto watched as the little girl slowly uncurled herself from her hunched position and hesitantly turned her head towards him. Her hair was covering most of her face since she was still leaning forward, but Naruto could tell that she was looking at him. The small gasp that escaped her lips confirmed it.
"It's ok," Naruto quickly said, "I won't hurt you." He wasn't sure if it would assure the girl more to leave his hand where it was on her back or take it away and his fingers flexed in the thick fabric of her dress as he contemplated the movement. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but felt her pull away with a small whimper at the sight of his large fangs. His smile dropped for a moment before he forced a small close mouthed smile that didn't reach his eyes.
A small breeze picked up, sweeping across the field to blow the girls hair even more into her face. Naruto stiffened. Among the scent of flowers and the surrounding trees, he could also smell the distinct scent of another human. His head snapped in the direction the breeze had come from allowing his sharp gaze to scan the forest.
Naruto felt the young girl shift next to him and then a sharp pain pierced his neck. His breath caught in his throat and he turned back to stare into the eyes of the little girl. Her eyes were a deep chocolate brown, large, innocent, and dry.
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed as he stared into the blank face of the beautiful child. He reached up a hand and pulled a long needle out of his neck. Looking from it, to the girl, and then back again, as his vision began to blur.
"Why?" Naruto asked right before he slumped over unconscious in a bed of flowers.
The child looked up from the unconscious monster when a man stepped out of the forest and approached them. The man carried a hunting knife in his hand and had a number of weapons strapped to his body. He stopped when he was next to the pair on the ground.
With caution, the man held his blade to the monster's neck with one hand while the other gingerly pried a red eye open. The man grunted in satisfaction and put his knife away. He then opened the creature's mouth and checked out his teeth. Once done, he moved to the claws, dragging a strap of leather over them to see how sharp they were. The leather was cut. Next he moved to the tails. At first he had thought that the male had simply tied pelts to his waist, but after observing him, he had discovered that they moved on their own. The man grabbed the base of the tails, feeling their thickness, and pulled hard enough to force the beast's hips off the ground. "Hmmm," he stroked the tails, surprised at their silky texture.
"Did I do well Zabuza?" the child asked with hopeful eyes.
Zabuza turned and looked at his young ward. "Yes, Haku, you did very well." He smiled as the little boy beamed at him.
"Your Majesties…"
"Stop that," his mother's words were just barely audible, the smile never leaving her face as she gazed over the assembled crowd of nobles and other visiting dignitaries.
Sasuke's scowl deepened and he gave one final tug (for good measure) at the cravat around his throat. He swore the thick white cloth was trying to strangle him to deathー it had been no surprise that he had developed an extreme dislike of things touching his neck, the mild anxiety every time something brushed against the now completely healed skin was forced down into the pit of Sasuke's stomach where it could die a fiery death. Releasing a calming breath, he then ran his hands roughly down his matching white dress shirt and vest before tugging at the sides of his navy blue long coat. Really, the dress coat was the only thing Sasuke considered even a little bit bearableー its deep blue spoke of days splashing through cool deep waters, and the gold embroidered flames licking along the cuffs and up the lapel to wrap around the high collar reminded the prince of windswept locks glowing in the warm sunshine. But even that thought brought a taste of bitternessー resentmentー to his tongue and he ground his teeth, bringing his clenched fists stiffly to his sides.
"My name is Zabuza..."
Ignoring his mother's hum of satisfaction, Sasuke allowed his eyes to travel the great hall. His eyes fell on his father who was in a deep conversation with a man with flowing white hair. If it wasn't for the fact that the man was built like a mountain, towering over the former king by at least a foot, then Sasuke would have paid him no mind. The two men stood close, their heads bowed toward one another as they shared in deep conversation that spoke of an old acquaintance that left Sasuke wondering of the strange man's identity. Even with all of their many years traveling throughout their kingdom, he hadn't seen his father converse with a hermit (socializing with the locals had always been his mother's thing). Sasuke's stomach rolled as that taste in his mouth turned sour and he had to look away from his father before his glare became noticeable. He hadn't spoken more than a few words to the man in almost a month.
"...and though I am just a lowly huntsman…"
Sasuke's gaze finally fell on his brother. Itachi was now sitting on the throneーgarbed in all black except for a regal red robe that billowed over his shoulders and spilled around his feet like a rippling pool of silken blood lined with rich black fursー a circlet of black gold sat on his brow, its likeness of black flames extending out of an oblong shaped ruby in the center of his forehead and wrapping around his head in a thin, but detailed ring. His brother had just been crowned the new king of the Fire Kingdom and as he looked over his people, with his queen at his side, he looked every bit the part.
The last month had been difficult… But Sasuke had decided that he would at least stay until his brother's coronation, and now that he had… Sasuke released a shuddering breath. He sought comfort in the small part of him that still felt the urge to stick out his tongue in a childish display of sibling rivalry (not that he was bitter that he wasn't on the throne, it was just the principle of the matter).
"I have ventured far and wide to bring you the most sought after treasure."
Sasuke watched the way his brother almost absently dipped his head in greetings to a man in long purple robes lined with silvers and blacks, his midnight black hair pulled back in a loose ponytail the way that Neji had worn his hair back at the academy. The man's skin was almost sickly pale, with a green/grey tint that lacked any of the luster that the Uchiha pallor was known for and he held his hand out to the queen in an awkward feminine way, letting his bony fingers dangle almost lifelessly as he asked to kiss her hand.
It was hard to miss the Lord of the Land of Wind, Prince Consort Orochimaru, who was acting as King Regent until his child, Prince Kabuto, came of age in a few years. Sasuke had always found him to be a slimy character and had avoided interacting with him over his early years even as his parents tried to keep up ties because of past friendships with that kingdom. He had never met the son, but he had to assume he was the same kind of decrepit creature as his father. He shuddered and looked away, finding no interest in that man or anything having to do with his sand ridden kingdom.
"Tales have told of a monstrous beast…"
He watched as his sister-in-law gracefully pulled her hand away from the other dignitary, a pleasantーthough clearly strainedー smile on her face, and placed her hand on her swollen belly. Sasuke's nephew or niece lay in there, the future of their kingdom, due in only a few weeks' time. Maybe he could come back for…? 'No,' Sasuke forced himself to close his eyes, blocking out any betraying thoughts. He'd made his choice and so had they.
"...that has plagued our borders for years."
Sasuke was brought out of his musing by the sudden influx of volume as the great hall's inhabitants began chattering excitedly. His attention fell on a man standing toward the front of the assembly who had apparently gained everyone's attention. Beside him stood a childー a girl, maybe ten years old?ー both looking anything but extraordinary in their worn traveling clothes and mud laiden boots. Behind them stood a large four wheeled cart with a drape thrown over the top to hide whatever was underneath. The edges of the drape were sharp, the top flat, suggesting some sort of big box, its content a mystery.
"Behold!"
The room surged, like a wave lapping the distant seashore, as everyone leaned forward in anticipation. With a flourish the man, Zabuza, pulled the drape from the cart and Sasuke felt his blood run cold.
The collective gasp was nearly drowned out by the youngest Uchiha prince's scream.
"No!"
No one noticed that two other men- one with black hair, one with white- lurching forward at the same time before stopping themselves and hanging back to observe. All eyes were focused on Sasuke as he ran, eyes blazing with panic, to the cage that held the beast.
Sasuke all but slammed into the bars in his haste to get to his friend, because there he wasー Narutoー not some beast, but the one person Sasuke couldn't get out of his head and out of his heart.
"Naruto," Sasuke's voice came out a hoarse cry, low and barely gasping past his suddenly tight throat. His hands passed through the cold thick bars to brush against sun-kissed skin that seemed to burn at his touch, sending a wave of warmth up his arm from the tips of his fingers all the way to the pit of his stomach where it pooled there like liquid sunlight. Relief rushed through him, a feeling that Sasuke knew he shouldn't be feeling given the circumstances, but he felt all the same, because Naruto was here. Here, with Sasuke. Here to fill that hole that had been empty for far too long.
But alas, that warmth, and contentment, and relief could only last for so long. It was just a fleeting moment before Sasuke's senses came back to him along with a flooding dread as he gently brushed his fingers through golden locks. He absently noticed the dirt and greasy texture to the normally freshly kempt hair (for a man that lived in the forest, Naruto had always known how to stay hygienic), but he ignored it in favor of frowning at the man's unconscious face.
"Naruto," his voice was bolder this timeーa commandーbut still too quiet for anyone else in the room to hear, as if his friend's name was a secret meant just for the two of them. Hope bloomed in Sasuke's chest when Naruto's eyebrows furrowed in his sleep. Peach flower lips pursed in a pout, and finally Naruto's eyelids opened into blurred slits.
Sasuke couldn't say what happened next.
The cacophony of noise that overtook the great hall was almost deafening. Shrieks of terror, cries, yells, gasps, all overlapped by the snapping and snarling and growling that came from Naruto as he came fully awake in an instant. His blood-red eyes blazed with full blown panicー matching those of his spectatorsー as he looked around wildly, his limbs smashing against every corner of the cage in his desperate attempt to escape. The metal bars rang a sharp melody throughout the hall as his body hit again and again, as his claws raked at them over and over, but to no avail. His tails, which had previously been spread beneath him like a lush blanket now flared to life, spilling out of the cage as they fanned and flailed about his person.
"Naruto!" Sasuke called again, the desperation clear in his voice. He took a deep gasping breath and had to force himself to swallow past the lump in his throat. His eyes stung. "Naruto," he called again when his friend showed no sign of hearing him. "Baka," there was definitely a sob on his voice now, but Sasuke ignored it as he reached forward and grabbed one of Naruto's tails.
It had the effect Sasuke wanted. Naruto spun aroundー a snarl on his lips, his pupils shrunk down to impossibly small slits as they focussed on Sasuke in preparation to attackー and Sasuke just stood there, with his arm still in the cage and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sasuke!" It was his brother's voice and Sasuke could already hear the footsteps of the palace guards approaching.
"No." His voice finally came out stronger this time, an order loud enough for his brother and those around them to hear because Naruto's face had already lost its snarl.
"Sasuke?" The combination of too much sleep and intense growling had made Naruto's throat raw, but the hint of insecurity, confusion, and fear were plain in that one word and sounded entirely unlike the confident blond man that Sasuke knew. It was like all the fight had left him as Naruto slumped against the wall of the cage closest to Sasuke (though the Uchiha knew from experience that the fox was still on high alert for any sudden movement).
Sasuke allowed himself a moment to squeeze Naruto's hand, the gesture meant to reassure them both. "It will be alright," he said. He tried to hold eye contact for as long as he could, to show his friend all the confidence he could without displaying any of the fear that was mirrored in Naruto's eyes. At Naruto's trusting nodーtrusting, Naruto had always been far too trusting for his own good and Sasuke didn't deserve his friendshipー Sasuke took a calming breath and turned to the man, Zabuza.
"Release him." His command silenced the room as much as it rose the volume in protests. Zabuza just looked at him dumbstruck.
"Sasuke," it was Itachi, "what is the meaning of this?" He had risen from his throne and descended the dias at some point and it was clear from the tone of his voice that he would accept nothing but the truth.
"Nii-san," Sasuke watched as his brother's eyes widened slightly at the term of endearment that he hadn't used for years, "It's Naruto." That should have been enough. Shouldn't that have been enough? Sasuke's eyes danced between his brother and his parents, who stood off to the side looking concerned and afraid, and saw no recognition in their eyes. He took a shuddering breath, because of course they wouldn't know. Why should they remember when even he hadn't? The squeeze to his hand brought his attention back to what was important and his eyes met with sunset red. "He's my friend."
Itachi observed his brother for a moment. Then he eyed the creature. All eyes focused on the king as he turned and relaxed back onto the throne before he waved his hand in a kingly manner at Zabuza, which had the man scrambling to get the keys to unlock the cage to everyone's amazement.
Sasuke couldn't help but hold his brother's eyes as the keys jingled and then clicked against the cage's lock, because he knew that this had been Itachi's moment. This had been the new king of the Fire Kingdom's chance to lay the groundwork for his future rule, and he had chosen Sasuke. It was true that the two brother's were not as close as they had once been, time apart and responsibility did that to everyone, but in the end they were still family. Sasuke knew that Itachi had seen his change over the years, had known what was coming after the coronation, and yet his Nii-san had made the choice to trust Sasuke (even though the young prince had once again done nothing to earn that trust) instead of giving into the fear of the unknown. It was a benevolence and understanding that was hard to come by in the world. Sasuke felt the weight of the entire kingdom on his shoulders then, not just the lives of his family— his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and their unborn child— and all the people present, but everyone, and he knew he couldn't let his brother down. With a slight nod of his head, Sasuke turned away from the new king and held out a hand to his best friend as the door of the cage swung open.
A pin could be dropped in the room and everyone would hear it as more than one person held their breaths, simultaneously pushing their bodies to the farthest reaches of the great hall and stretching their necks forward for a better view. Naruto's feet didn't make a sound as they touched the ground, but the way he gripped Sasuke's hand made the young prince grit his teeth and Sasuke didn't waste any time before pulling Naruto toward him to inspect him for injury. Murmurs spread throughout the crowd once again, but Sasuke paid them no mind as he ran his thumb along a cut down Naruto's left cheek that sliced through his whisker-like marks in a diagonal slit. His finger came away bloody, but he could already see the wound closing and he released a sigh of relief.
Naruto stood motionless in his arms, his eyes momentarily closed as he took in big gulps of air through his nose, but Sasuke could see the way his sharp ears twitched with any sound around them.
"It's ok now," Sasuke's voice came out a whisper and was rewarded by a slight upturn of Naruto's lips. That small smile meant everything to Sasuke. Nothing else mattered. There was nothing and no one but Naruto and that small smile, and Sasuke reveled in it.
Then Sasuke's little world was shattered in a heartbeat.
"This is unacceptable!" The shout rang throughout the great room, breaking whatever spell had fallen upon the assembled crowd in an instant. All eyes turned as one to Prince Consort Orochimaru as he stepped forward with his head held high. "Don't you see?" he continued as he swept a purple draped arm out with a dramatic swish, "That thing has captured the prince's mind with its evil magic. Kill it before it enslaves us all!"
The crowd surged again, the momentary calm it had found moments ago now lost in the Wind Lord's claim. Sasuke glared death at the pale skinned man and tightened his hold on Naruto even as he felt the blond stiffen in his arms. "You're wrong," Sasuke stated with all the force he could muster.
"See?!" Orochimaru continued, this time with both arms thrown out in a grand gesture. "The monster plays with his mind, has driven him mad!"
Sasuke saw red. Years of therapy, of begging and pleading-of forgetting- had all been for nothing, and yet all of his efforts lead to this moment. He was tired of it all. "I AM NOT CRAZY!" he shouted, his eyes blazing with fury.
"How would you even know?!" Orochimaru shot back before a menacing sneer came to his thin lips. "We've all heard the stories. You are an out of control child who had to be shipped off to boarding school for the good of the kingdom. Why would ANY of us ever trust you?!"
"You're out of line," Sasuke ground out through clenched teeth. Naruto released a rumbling growl as his lips pulled back into a snarl showing off his sharp teeth.
"Am I?" Orochimaru challenged, a manic light in his eyes as he pointed a spindly finger at Naruto. "You would defend this creature- put its safety over that of the humans in your own realm. Clearly you are unfit to make any decisions. You've just set a monster free in a room full of subjects. You should be banished after this thing is put to death!" He cast a critical eye toward Itachi as his voice took on a condescending lilt, "As any responsible king would ordain."
"Orochimaru!" All eyes moved to Itachi as the young king once again stood and raised his commanding voice, "These people are not your subjects to protect, and you will not speak for me."
Orochimaru ignored the warning in the king's voice. His face tightened at the lack of his official title and spittle flew from his lips as he responded in kind. "And what does a boy-king know of such matters?"
"Have a care, sir," Sasuke's menacing tone brought everyone's attention back on him, "You have no power here, and your friends are limited."
Sweat had gathered on his brow, and Orochimaru's golden eyes darted around the room like angry bees trapped in a hive. It was clear that the king stood strong with his brother and that nothing would be done about the newly freed creature. "Fine," he spat, "If you're not going to take responsibility for this monster then I will!" With a roar the Prince Consort charged forward, drawing his sword in an attempt to end the foul beast.
Someone screamed, footsteps thundered and armor rang as the palace guards went into action, and Sasuke moved. Orochimaru was fast, unusually so, and the fact that he had been standing unhindered only served him well, but Sasuke's adrenaline was running high and as he pushed Naruto behind him he knew that he would stop at nothing to protect the person he cared about most.
Orochimaru's sword came fast, a long black thing that reflected no light and instead seemed to dim the very air around it. His crazed gaze burned liquid gold, and Sasuke could only brace himself to feel the cold sting of Orochimaru's blade, hoping for a quick end that would mean Naruto's safety.
Another shout broke through Sasuke's defenses, this one much closer, and before he knew it he was being shoved out of the way. He stumbled and almost fell, his heart hammering wildly in his chest so loudly that it made his head ring. By the time he looked up it was too late, Orochimaru's blade had fallen, slashed down and across in a swift move that left a streak of blood splayed across the ground, and Naruto in front of him to block the blow that Sasuke had intended to take. Less than a second passed before Naruto released another scream, this one filled with more pain than fear, and his right arm swept up in a graceful arc as his sharp claws tore out the Wind Lord's throat.
Nobody spoke as Orochimaru dropped to the ground with a gurgling sound, nor while his sickly pale body spasmed before finally falling still. Even if they had, Sasuke wouldn't have heard or seen them. His mind was in a deep fog, his ears a high pitch whine that threatened nausea, and as always his eyes focused on the one person that mattered.
"N-" Sasuke's hands trembled as he reached out for his friend. Naruto turned from where he had been staring at the lifeless body of his wouldbe assassin to look at Sasuke with wide eyes. It was clear that he was shaking just as much as Sasuke as his breaths came out in quick pants against Sasuke's face.
"Are you-?" Sasuke couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence, his thoughts were too jumbled, and he looked down to see the large slash across Naruto's torso as he simultaneously took hold of Naruto's face for his own reassurance.
The cut looked deep, he noticed with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, spanning from the top corner of Naruto's right pec and ending above his left hip in a clean line that was already spilling blood down his bronze stomach.
Naruto's unsteady gaze was pulled away from his blood stained claws. "Ah, yeah." He didn't look so sure of himself, the fact that he'd just ended a human life (even in his own defense) had rattled him more than anything. His pupils were still blown wide on adrenaline- ever familiar feline slits, now round and big enough to only leave a small ring of red around them- and Sasuke knew that it would be a while before either of them fully took stock of what just happened.
That didn't matter though, because Naruto had saved him. Again. The tally counts just kept climbing and Sasuke couldn't seem to stop putting Naruto's life in danger. When they were young it made sense, Naruto knew what he was doing, but this was Sasuke's world, Sasuke's fight. Why the hell had-
"Why did you do that?" Sasuke's throat was too tight, it hurt to even speak. He blinked his eyes when Naruto's face began to blur and he willed his emotions to stay in check. Even with relief flooding his system at the knowledge of Naruto's superior healing, he willed to blond to see that that blade had been meant for Sasuke. Naruto had no right-
Naruto gave Sasuke a funny look, his eyebrows scrunching and his cheeks shifting under Sasuke's pale hands. "Because I love you." He said it as if it were the simplest thing, the most obvious answer to give and Sasuke's stomach rolled as his chest flooded with warmth at the words.
Love. Yes, that was it. That had been the feeling growing in Sasuke for years. He knew that of course, had to have known, because he'd been willing-planning- on giving up on everything he'd known for this man he'd always called 'friend'. And now Naruto- Naruto loved him too. An overwhelming feeling surged up inside Sasuke- happiness, hope, excitement, love- and again he moved forward before he could really think.
His lips caught Naruto's in an instant and his dark eyes closed at the sensation shooting sparks through his body. Giddiness flooded his system and the warmth within him bloomed until it felt like it would burst out of his chest. Even with the grunt of surprise from the other man, Sasuke's right hand moved to the back of Naruto's neck to tangle in shoulder-length hair, while his other hand dropped to Naruto's shoulder to pull him closer.
It was at that moment when Sasuke noticed Naruto's lack of involvement in their earth shattering, clouds and bubbles all around, room spinning as the whole world disappeared, kiss and a part of the Uchiha prince wondered if he had made a mistake. There may have been a chance that his lifelong friend had been talking about platonic love… which… would make this whole situation Sasuke put them in a bit awkward… However, that thought quickly flew from his mind when the screaming started.
Naruto ripped himself away as his mouth opened in a soul eating shriek that thundered around the large hall. Sasuke could only watch in horror as the blond fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around himself tightly until his sharp claws drew pinpricks of blood on each shoulder blade. It took a moment for Sasuke to realize that the blood running down Naruto's once clean hand wasn't from his shoulders, but from his fingers as each claw peeled away to leave bloody stumps. Naruto's tails whipped wildly behind him before they froze and began to disintegrate into black ash that dissolved into nothingness before it even hit the ground. Naruto shook violently, creeping in on himself tighter as his screams continued, until they suddenly stopped and Sasuke could only stare in shock as he crumpled to the ground unconscious.
And then there was a flash of white and red, and the hermit who'd been talking to Sasuke's father earlier was blocking Naruto from view with his larger form. "Your majesty," he called to Itachi as he scooped the blond up into his arms and moved away, "we need to talk."
Itachi nodded and quickly followed the man out of the room. Sasuke made to follow when suddenly a pair of soldiers yelped and positioned themselves in front of the door the trio had exited, their faces stunned and confused. A hand fell on Sasuke's shoulder, and he turned to see his father with a perturbed frown creasing his features. "Let Jiraiya handle it," was all he said with a shake of his head.
Sasuke began to protest, but a glance at his mother made him pause. He didn't know who this 'Jiraiya' was, but maybe he could help Naruto. His heart was still thundering in his chest when he allowed his dark gaze to move back to where Naruto had disappeared to. A trail of blood lead from where the blond had collapsed and vanished around the doorway the soldiers were still guarding. Another spike of fear shot through Sasuke at the sight. Why wasn't Naruto healing?
Sasuke was tired. Not the tired that came from no sleep (though there was that too) but the tired that came from the draining of the soul. The tired that came from losing the one thing that made him happy without any explanation as to why.
It had been two months and Sasuke was tired.
He sighed- not for the first time- as his eyes roved lazily over the men and women gathered around him- their excitement palpable through the way they chatted and figited around like little birds hunting for worms, and all Sasuke could feel was nothing as the deep bags under his eyes ached to draw them closed once more.
He allowed himself a moment of peace, his eyes shutting out what his ears could not, and he took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Did you see him?"
The hushed whisper came from his left and Sasuke's eyes opened just a sliver, his dark orbs sliding to a pair of women not too far away. It was usual that women would whisper and giggle around him, his Uchiha bloodline blessing Sasuke with both good looks and royal blood, but Sasuke found that the women hadn't even glanced his way in their discussion.
That's right. It was now October and he and his family had traveled to the Wind Kingdom to witness the crowning of the new king. Apparently the man had been absent for a number of years and he had just returned a few months ago. No one outside of the castle had seen him since and now that he had officially come of age, he was taking his rightful place in front of Kabuto, who was still only twelve. It was all very confusing, or so Sasuke had been told (though he really couldn't give a damn, a king is a king).
He, himself, hadn't had a chance to greet the new ruler. There were just too many people vying for the man's attention, and Sasuke would much rather lean against the far wall than deal with that crowd.
"Mmm, I'd take a piece of that action."
This time it was a man. Sasuke's cool gaze settled on the gangly looking brunet as he leaned into his female companion to converse none too quietly.
The woman's laughter fluttered to Sasuke's ears, sounding both cruel and pleased. Her hand landed on the man's arm in her attempts to control her glee.
"I'm serious," the man continued, "with the amount of oil under these damned dunes, this kingdom is worth a fortune. I'd marry him, even if he wasn't gorgeous."
"Oh, you're bad," the woman teased, her smile matching the man's.
The man shrugged, "What? I'm sure if you paid that wizard enough then he'd make anything possible, producing heirs wouldn't be an issue with magic."
'Wizard,' Sasuke thought, and his stomach turned as he was filled with bitterness. He knew exactly who they were talking about.
"I heard," it was a different woman this time- who had apparently also been eavesdropping, but unlike Sasuke decided to join in on the gossip- as she all but shouldered her way between the man and woman. "I heard that he's been turning away all suitors, no matter how well off they are. I think that he already has his sights set on someone."
Their conversation evolved into a torrent of further gossip that Sasuke drowned out. 'Keh, vultures.' It was disgusting. All these people wanted was either entertainment or more wealth, and when the well dried up they moved on. The fiasco with Naruto had only kept them entertained for so long, a few weeks at best. Everyone had been too stunned at the turn of events. They had all seen it; not only had the foreign dignitary drawn his weapon within the great hall, he'd also not hesitated when their prince had stood in his way. Not only that, but the prince had deliberately tried to take the blow, he'd been willing to sacrifice himself for the creature and in the end the tailed man had done the same for him. It had been all the gossip for a while, the attack, the kiss, the sudden appearance of the wizard after Naruto had… And although images of the blond man had never left the mind of the young Uchiha prince, it seemed these nobles had already found something new to gawk at.
Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed at that thought and he pinched his eyes closed at the oncoming rush of the last time he saw so many people gawking, the elation he felt, before the pain he's suffered since not knowing what's become of his best friend. They'd kept him away. He'd kept Sasuke away, and who was Sasuke to stand up against a wizard?
A gentle hand on his arm brought a gasp from his lips and Sasuke's eyes met with those of his mother's, deep chocolate brown and kind. Small wrinkles formed around her eyes as she gave her son's bicep a gentle squeeze, a comforting smile coming to her lips as she took in his barely hidden distress.
"Come," she said with a gentle tilt of her head, "It's our turn. Your father is waiting."
Sasuke nodded silently, swallowing a heavy lump in his throat at being caught in such a vulnerable state, and pushed off the white sandstone wall. He knew his mother was worried about him- had been worried about him for some time- but he couldn't bring himself to care. She knew what was wrong, even after all this time, and yet she did nothing. He took his mother's arm and allowed her to lead him through the grand hall toward the back of the room where he knew the throne and the new king were waiting.
He allowed his mind and gaze to drift once more, trusting his mother to lead him along the red stone floor without any difficulty. Silver caught his attention, not the silver of a shining plate of armor, but silver hair- long and glistening under the many candle lit chandeliers flickering on the ceiling. The hair belonged to a young boy, in his early teens perhaps, his gangly limbs speaking of early pubescence as he stood almost awkwardly with other boys his same age. He was dressed in fine clothes, silks of red and gold that contrasted against the silver frames of his glasses, fitted perfectly as if someone had taken great care to dress him for this day. Sasuke watched the way the boy laughed with his friends, free and open- as if he hadn't a care in the world- and for a moment Sasuke envied him.
It was only a moment before the boy with the silver hair was gone from sight and Sasuke continued onward. A trio of men caught his attention next, all dressed in simple clothes of red, green, and blue. The trio weren't anything special, except that all of them were crying. Sasuke watched as the man in red hugged the man in blue as he sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm just so proud!" The man wailed, causing people near to them to move away as the man in green stood by and just nodded happily as tears streamed down his face.
It was harder than Sasuke would have thought to pull his gaze from the awkward scene the grown men were making. 'What the hell?'
"My Lordship the High King Kurama," the Master of Ceremonies' voice was strong, but the absolute warmth in it was hard to miss, as Sasuke and his mother took up their positions behind his father, all giving a shallow bow befitting fellow royals. "May I present the Uchiha household of the Land of Fire," the MC continued not a moment later.
Sasuke started tracing patterns in the tiled floor when he heard his father begin to explain Itachi's absence. Sasuke's niece had been born only a few weeks ago and the new king couldn't bring himself to leave his daughter and wife for an extended period of time. He frowned when his father made an amused comment about 'young love and all that'.
Sasuke grunted when he was none to gently elbowed in the side and brought his eyes from the tiled floor to shoot a glare at the person responsible. To his surprise, his mother's steady gaze met his, a challenging eyebrow raising to meet his quickly fading glare. His sudden confusion was only met with a subtle head jerk from the now smiling woman, and Sasuke couldn't help but follow her lead and look up.
It wasn't the throne that took Sasuke's breath away in a nearly silent gasp, though it was a sight to behold. The rosewood was clearly freshly lacquered, gleaming with perfection, to show off feet and armrests that had been carved into clawed paws. The velvet that made up the cushioned seat and backrest were a deep emerald, rich like the deepest forest, before the wood overtook the back again to break into a series of whipping branches that tapered off to points.
It wasn't the clothes that caused Sasuke's eyes to widen and for him to almost lose his footing, though the silks and cashmere were surely finer than anything he had seen before. The soft golden pants that billowed out before clenching tight at the ankle above matching slipper shoes. The form fitting tunic, stitched together in diagonal strips of delicate ivory and white, tucked into the pants and fastened at the waist with a thick sky blue strip of fabric. A full length overcoat lay on top of it all- the likes of which Sasuke had never seen before- ivory as well and lined with golden embroidery, loose and falling in craftily cut layers along the sleeves.
It was the face of the man sitting on the throne- King Kurama- that stopped the young prince's heart for a moment. Golden hair, much brighter than any clothing, and trimmed short enough to curl around his ears instead of his neck. Scars marring sun kissed cheeks, looking like whiskers and someone's cruel joke, but still fitting somehow. Clear blue waters, warmed from the summer's sun reflection and deep as the fathomless seas, shone out of gleaming eyes that danced in delight as they focused intently on Sasuke.
There it was again, that feeling Sasuke had been longing for that left him lightheaded and giddy at the same time. The feeling he'd known all along, and yet had only had a moment to experience before it was ripped cruelly away from him. A familiar face, and yet not, but no less breathtaking. Sasuke took a deep breath and straightened, a smile coming to his lips in what felt like months. "You've gotten taller."
And Naruto smiled.
A.N.- I drew a picture for this chapter too! I drew it before I even wrote the fic lol. Check it out if you want to see some kissing! https://www.deviantart.com/lobstirrchwan/art/Because-I-Love-You-560437758